Fig. 1

Intestinal histomorphology, digestion, and absorption functions of the jejunum in broiler chickens. A VH, villus height, μm; CD, crypt depth, μm; VCR, the ratio of VH to CD; goblet cell (GC) counts between each set of per 100 μm intestinal mucosal epithelial columnar cells; B Activities of digestive enzymes in jejunal mucosa; C HE-stained sections were monitored by optical microscopy at 200 × for differences in villi (VL) length and quantity of GC. Bars labeled with asterisks are significantly different (^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01) compared with CTL. NS, no significance (P > 0.05). Data are expressed as the means ± SEM (n = 6)