Table 5 Effects of constant chronic heat stress on villus height and crypt depth of small intestine segments in growing-finishing pigs

 Villus height, μm

574.50 ± 25.54^a

379.49 ± 36.00^b

414.50 ± 25.26^b

< 0.001

 Crypt depth, μm

505.42 ± 17.15

449.10 ± 38.36

396.94 ± 41.88

0.115

 Ratio of villus height to crypt depth

1.14 ± 0.02^a

0.84 ± 0.03^b

1.07 ± 0.05^a

< 0.001

 Villus height, μm

510.37 ± 39.01^a

319.29 ± 28.62^b

384.90 ± 11.37^b

< 0.001

 Crypt depth, μm

292.53 ± 9.28^a

218.69 ± 26.00^b

218.78 ± 17.76^b

0.021

 Ratio of villus height to crypt depth

1.73 ± 0.08^a

1.49 ± 0.07^b

1.80 ± 0.09^a

0.042

 Villus height, μm

526.36 ± 25.43^a

298.98 ± 28.33^b

367.27 ± 25.96^b

< 0.001

 Crypt depth, μm

403.73 ± 23.42

367.29 ± 35.48

328.54 ± 30.47

0.244

 Ratio of villus height to crypt depth

1.31 ± 0.03^a

0.82 ± 0.04^c

1.14 ± 0.06^b

< 0.001