Table 2 Body weight of the chickens (g) and histomorphological measurements of the duodenum on d 21 and 42 of rearing

Body weight of the chickens with histological samples taken, g, n = 15

811 ± 23.2

845 ± 15.1

2170 ± 30.3

2190 ± 51.6

Duodenal weight, g

7.40 ± 0.2

8.03 ± 0.4

15.30 ± 0.6

15.28 ± 0.6

Duodenal length, cm

25.79 ± 3.9

25.30 ± 3.0

33.60 ± 2.6

33.16 ± 3.2

Duodenal CSA (cross-sectional area), mm²

23.81 ± 4.27

23.73 ± 2.82

35.34 ± 4.66

36.62 ± 6.14

Duodenal diameter (excluding tunica serosa), μm

5484 ± 493.94

5484 ± 330.71

6690 ± 444.08

6808 ± 537.65

Muscularis thickness, μm

148 ± 25.38

149 ± 22.15

194 ± 13.50

191 ± 31.31

Villus height, μm

1316 ± 43.2

1302 ± 43.2

1536^a ± 56.8

1383^b ± 32.3

Villus width, μm

109^b ± 3.6

126^a ± 5.7

115^A ± 5.5

99^B ± 2.3

Villus surface area, μm²

443,997 ± 13.654

514,529 ± 34.306

558,730^A ± 41.777

429,764^B ± 11.648

Crypt depth, μm

108^B ± 4.2

146^A ± 1.8

227^A ± 3.7

113^B ± 4.6