Nutrient Regulation of Intestinal Development and Function in Chickens

This review presents an overview of the current state of knowledge of the relationship between intestinal function and nutrients in poultry. There has been limited research on such relationship, especially at the tissue and cellular levels, until recently. Most of the previous studies focused on gross changes in weight and volume. Recently, there has been greater focus on studies into the effects of nutrients on the structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), particularly in an effort to find alternatives to in-feed antibiotic (IFA) supplements. There are also studies aimed at alleviating the nature of various anti nutritive factors in feed ingredients and how their effects can be reduced. Although the gross response of poultry to such factors are generally known, it is not certain if these effects originate at the intestinal level or points of metabolism beyond the intestine. The objective of this review is to examine the natural development of gastrointestinal tract and how this responds to various feed factors.