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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #342949
Title: Intra amniotic administration of raffinose and stachyose affects the intestinal brush border functionality and alters gut microflora populations

Author
item PACIFICI, SARINA - Cornell University
item SONG, JAEHONG - Cornell University
item ZHANG, CATHY - Cornell University
item WANG, QIAOYE - Cornell University
item Glahn, Raymond
item Kolba, Nikolai
item Tako, Elad

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2017
Publication Date: 3/19/2017
Citation: Pacifici, S., Song, J., Zhang, C., Wang, Q., Glahn, R.P., Kolba, N.J., Tako, E.N. 2017. Intra amniotic administration of raffinose and stachyose affects the intestinal brush border functionality and alters gut microflora populations. Nutrients. 9(3):304. doi:10.3390/nu9030304.

Interpretive Summary: This study investigates the effectiveness of two types of prebiotics (plant origin fiber), stachyose and raffinose, which are present in staple food crops that are widely consumed in regions where dietary iron (Fe) deficiency is a health concern. The hypothesis is that these prebiotics will improve Fe status, intestinal functionality and increase health promoting bacterial populations in an animal poultry model (Gallus gallus). By using the intra-amniotic administration procedure (solution injection into the amniotic fluid that surrounds the developing embryo), prebiotic treatment solutions were injected in ovo (day 17 of embryonic incubation) with varying concentrations of a 1.0 mL pure raffinose or stachyose in 18 MO H2O. Four treatment groups (50, 100 mg·mL-1 raffinose or stachyose) and two controls (18 MO H2O and non-injected) were utilized. At hatch the cecum, small intestine, liver, and blood were collected for assessment of the relative abundance of the gut bacterial populations, relative expression of Fe-related genes and brush border membrane (the digestive and absorptive surface in the intestine) functional genes, liver ferritin (Fe storage protein) levels, and hemoglobin levels, respectively. The prebiotic treatments increased the relative expression of brush border membrane functionality proteins (p < 0.05), decreased the relative expression of Fe-related proteins (p < 0.05), and increase villus surface area (the digestive and absorptive surface). Raffinose and stachyose increased the relative abundance of probiotics (health promoting bacterial populations) (p < 0.05), and decreased that of pathogenic bacteria. Raffinose and stachyose beneficially affected the gut microflora, Fe bioavailability, and brush border membrane functionality. Our investigations have led to a greater understanding of these prebiotics’ effects on intestinal health and mineral metabolism.

Technical Abstract: This study investigates the effectiveness of two types of prebiotics, stachyose and raffinose, which are present in staple food crops that are widely consumed in regions where dietary Fe deficiency is a health concern. The hypothesis is that these prebiotics will improve Fe status, intestinal functionality and increase health promoting bacterial populations in vivo (Gallus gallus). By using the intra-amniotic administration procedure, prebiotic treatment solutions were injected in ovo (day 17 of embryonic incubation) with varying concentrations of a 1.0 mL pure raffinose or stachyose in 18 MO H2O. Four treatment groups (50, 100 mg·mL-1 raffinose or stachyose) and two controls (18 MO H2O and non-injected) were utilized. At hatch the cecum, small intestine, liver, and blood were collected for assessment of the relative abundance of the gut microflora, relative expression of Fe-related genes and brush border membrane functional genes, hepatic ferritin levels, and hemoglobin levels, respectively. The prebiotic treatments increased the relative expression of brush border membrane functionality proteins (p < 0.05), decreased the relative expression of Fe-related proteins (p < 0.05), and increase villus surface area. Raffinose and stachyose increased the relative abundance of probiotics (p < 0.05), and decreased that of pathogenic bacteria. Raffinose and stachyose beneficially affected the gut microflora, Fe bioavailability, and brush border membrane functionality. Our investigations have led to a greater understanding of these prebiotics’ effects on intestinal health and mineral metabolism.