Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-04Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:40:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 sousa_adl_dr_jabo.pdf: 988790 bytes, checksum: 16a6c08389c72bdf340f861f5412e6be (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Este experimento foi conduzido em um empreendimento aquícola, tendo como objetivo a utilização de mananoligossacarídeo (MOS) e ß-glucano, na suplementação dietária do lote experimental, com o intuito de acompanhar o desempenho zootécnico e relacioná-lo aos parâmetros hematológicos, alterações morfológicas do intestino e atividade enzimática (protease, lípase e amilase) de 3000 juvenis de tilápias-do-nilo, mantidos em tanques-rede, com peso médio inicial de 24g ± 0,26. Utilizaram-se nove tanques-rede (6,0 m3) constituindo-se de três tratamentos e três repetições: Tratamento 1: ração comercial sem suplementação (controle); Tratamento 2: 0,1% por tonelada de MOS; Tratamento 3: 0,03% por tonelada de beta glucano purificados. A ração continha 36 % de proteína bruta (PB), incorporados no premix MOS e β-glucano purificado (BIORIGIN®). Os exemplares foram alimentados três vezes ao dia de acordo com a sua biomassa, e, mensalmente, os ajustes foram determinados de acordo com as biometrias. Os parâmetros analisados, físicos e químicos da água (temperatura, °C, oxigênio dissolvido, mg L-1, pH e condutividade elétrica, us cm-1); zootécnicos (peso inicial e final - Pti e Ptf, comprimento total inicial e final - Cti e Ctf, relação Pi x Ct,, fator de condição - K, conversão alimentar aparente -CAA, ganho de peso diário - GPD, taxa de crescimento específico - TCE, taxa de eficiência protéica - TEP e sobrevivência – S); hematológicos (hematócrito, hemoglobina, proteína total, contagem diferencial de leucócitos - CDL, contagem de eritrócitos - Er, contagem total de leucócitos - CTL, contagem total de trombócitos - CTT, volume corpuscular médio e concentração -VCM e hemoglobina corpuscular média – CHCM); morfologia da parte anterior do intestino (altura, altura da parede e espessura do epitélio das vilosidades) e atividade enzimática... / This experiment was conducted at an aquicolous enterprise with the objective of evaluating the use of mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) and ß-glucan as dietary supplements in an experimental lot in order to follow the zootechnical performance, establishing a relationship with the hematological parameters, the morphological alterations of the intestine, and the enzymatic activity (protease, lipase and amylase) of 3000 Nile tilapia juveniles kept in cages, with initial mean weight of 24g ± 0.26. Nine net tanks (6.0 m3) were used, with three treatments and three replications: Treatment 1: commercial feed without supplementation (control); Treatment 2: 0.1% per ton of MOS; Treatment 3: 0.03% per ton of purified beta glucan. The feed contained 36 % of crude protein (CP) incorporated into the premix MOS and purified beta glucan (BIORIGIN®). The fishes were fed three times a day according to their biomass, where the adjustments were determined monthly according to the biometry. The analysed parameters were: physical and chemical parameters of the water (temperature, °C, dissolved oxygen, mg L-1, pH and electrical conductivity, us cm-1); zootechnical (initial and final weight - Wti and Wtf, initial and final total length - Lti and Ltf, relationship Wi x Lt, condition factor - K, apparent feed-conversion - AFC, daily weight gain - DWG, specific growth rate - SGR, protein efficiency ratio - PER and survival rate - S); hematological; (hematocrit, hemoglobin, total protein, leucocyte differential count - LDC, red blood cell count - RBC, total leucocyte count - TLC, total thrombocyte count - TTC, mean corpuscular volume - MCV, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration – MCHC); morphology of the front part of the intestine (height, height of the wall and thickness of the epithelium of the villi) and enzymatic activity (protease, lipase e amylase). The nile tilápia that had received the diet... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Elizabeth Romagosa / Banca: Paulo Cesar Ciarlini / Banca: Fabiana Pilarski / Banca: Leonardo Tachibana / Banca: Irene Bastos Franceschini Vicentini / Resumo: Este experimento foi conduzido em um empreendimento aquícola, tendo como objetivo a utilização de mananoligossacarídeo (MOS) e ß-glucano, na suplementação dietária do lote experimental, com o intuito de acompanhar o desempenho zootécnico e relacioná-lo aos parâmetros hematológicos, alterações morfológicas do intestino e atividade enzimática (protease, lípase e amilase) de 3000 juvenis de tilápias-do-nilo, mantidos em tanques-rede, com peso médio inicial de 24g ± 0,26. Utilizaram-se nove tanques-rede (6,0 m3) constituindo-se de três tratamentos e três repetições: Tratamento 1: ração comercial sem suplementação (controle); Tratamento 2: 0,1% por tonelada de MOS; Tratamento 3: 0,03% por tonelada de beta glucano purificados. A ração continha 36 % de proteína bruta (PB), incorporados no premix MOS e β-glucano purificado (BIORIGIN®). Os exemplares foram alimentados três vezes ao dia de acordo com a sua biomassa, e, mensalmente, os ajustes foram determinados de acordo com as biometrias. Os parâmetros analisados, físicos e químicos da água (temperatura, °C, oxigênio dissolvido, mg L-1, pH e condutividade elétrica, us cm-1); zootécnicos (peso inicial e final - Pti e Ptf, comprimento total inicial e final - Cti e Ctf, relação Pi x Ct,, fator de condição - K, conversão alimentar aparente -CAA, ganho de peso diário - GPD, taxa de crescimento específico - TCE, taxa de eficiência protéica - TEP e sobrevivência - S); hematológicos (hematócrito, hemoglobina, proteína total, contagem diferencial de leucócitos - CDL, contagem de eritrócitos - Er, contagem total de leucócitos - CTL, contagem total de trombócitos - CTT, volume corpuscular médio e concentração -VCM e hemoglobina corpuscular média - CHCM); morfologia da parte anterior do intestino (altura, altura da parede e espessura do epitélio das vilosidades) e atividade enzimática... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This experiment was conducted at an aquicolous enterprise with the objective of evaluating the use of mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) and ß-glucan as dietary supplements in an experimental lot in order to follow the zootechnical performance, establishing a relationship with the hematological parameters, the morphological alterations of the intestine, and the enzymatic activity (protease, lipase and amylase) of 3000 Nile tilapia juveniles kept in cages, with initial mean weight of 24g ± 0.26. Nine net tanks (6.0 m3) were used, with three treatments and three replications: Treatment 1: commercial feed without supplementation (control); Treatment 2: 0.1% per ton of MOS; Treatment 3: 0.03% per ton of purified beta glucan. The feed contained 36 % of crude protein (CP) incorporated into the premix MOS and purified beta glucan (BIORIGIN®). The fishes were fed three times a day according to their biomass, where the adjustments were determined monthly according to the biometry. The analysed parameters were: physical and chemical parameters of the water (temperature, °C, dissolved oxygen, mg L-1, pH and electrical conductivity, us cm-1); zootechnical (initial and final weight - Wti and Wtf, initial and final total length - Lti and Ltf, relationship Wi x Lt, condition factor - K, apparent feed-conversion - AFC, daily weight gain - DWG, specific growth rate - SGR, protein efficiency ratio - PER and survival rate - S); hematological; (hematocrit, hemoglobin, total protein, leucocyte differential count - LDC, red blood cell count - RBC, total leucocyte count - TLC, total thrombocyte count - TTC, mean corpuscular volume - MCV, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration - MCHC); morphology of the front part of the intestine (height, height of the wall and thickness of the epithelium of the villi) and enzymatic activity (protease, lipase e amylase). The nile tilápia that had received the diet... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:48:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Liliane_Borsatti.pdf: 2727712 bytes, checksum: 873b91306487ae36eebef66843276a08 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-29 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of using distinct growth promoter over the energetic metabolism and performance of poultry farming. Two experimental diets (ND normal diet according to nutritional requirements and RD reduced diet, with 5% less of nutrients), supplemented or not with antibiotics and prebiotics from 1 to 10, 11 to 21, and 22 to 42 days of age. For performance, we used 1152 chickens, divided into 48 boxes following a completely casualized 2x3 factor design (two diets x three growth promoter) composed of six treatments and eight repetitions. At the end of each period, the animals and the food leftovers were weighed to calculate the performance variables. At 21 days of age, one chicken per experimental units (EU) was slaughtered and portions of the small intestine were collected for morphological analyses. After 33 days, two chickens per EU were selected and the cecum content was removed for microbiological analysis. After 35 days, blood samples were taken from brachial puncture to evaluate blood parameters. By the end of the experimental period, two chickens per EU were slaughtered for evaluating the dressing percentage. For metabolism analysis, we used 180 poultry chicks, divided into 36 cages, distributed according to the experimental design abovementioned in performance analysis by using the traditional method of excreta collection. The animals fed with RD presented the worst results (P<0.05) for mean weight, weight gain, food intake and feed conversion rate. There was no effect (P>0.05) over villi height in duodenum and ileum. However, interaction (P<0.05) was detected between the evaluated promoter and the villi height in jejunum, the crypt depth and the relationship villi:crypt in all segments, inasmuch as ND containing prebiotics yielded the best results. The growth promoter had no effects over cecum microflora although RD resulted in higher amounts of Lactobacilos and Bifidubacterium (P<0.05) when diets were compared. Food free of growth promoters yielded higher levels of triglycerides and calcium (P<0.05). The RD reduced the concentration of triglycerides (P<0.05) but increased the deposition of abdominal fat (P<0.05). Interaction between diet and growth promoters was observed (P<0.05) in relation to the coefficients of ileum digestibility (CID) of dry matter (DM), raw protein (RP) and ethereal extract (EE). The RD containing antibiotics presented lower CID in DM. The ND containing antibiotic presented higher CID in RP (P<0.05), while RD containing prebiotics resulted in higher CID of RP and EE (P<0.05). The coefficient values of total digestibility (CTD) in DM, RP and EE showed interaction (P<0.05) between diets and growth promoters, where the RD containing antibiotic yielded the lowest DTD of DM and EE. The ND resulted in higher values of apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) (P<0.05). We conclude that prebiotics can be used as growth promoters in poultry, without hindering their performance while the reduction of nutritional demands in food decreases the digestibility of nutrients / Dois experimentos foram realizados para avaliar o efeito da utilização de diferentes promotores de crescimento sobre o metabolismo energético e o desempenho de frangos de corte em crescimento. Foram avaliadas duas dietas experimentais (DN - dieta normal, atendendo às exigências nutricionais; e DR - dieta reduzida, com 5% menos da exigência nutricional), suplementadas ou não com antibióticos e prebióticos, nos períodos de 1 a 10, 11 a 21, 22 a 42 dias de idade. No desempenho, foram utilizadas 1152 aves, divididas em 48 boxes, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado contendo seis tratamentos, oito repetições, em esquema fatorial 2x3 (duas dietas x três promotores de crescimento). Ao final de cada período, as aves e sobras de ração foram pesadas para cálculo das variáveis de desempenho. Aos 21 dias, foi abatida uma ave por unidade experimental (UE) e coletado fragmentos do intestino delgado para análise da morfologia intestinal. Aos 33 dias, foram selecionadas duas aves por UE e retirado o conteúdo cecal para análise microbiológica. Aos 35 dias< foi realizada coleta de sangue via pulsão braquial para análise dos parâmetros sanguíneos. Ao final do experimento< foram abatidas duas aves por UE para cálculos de rendimento de carcaça. No metabolismo, foram utilizados 180 pintos de corte, divididos em 36 gaiolas, distribuídos no mesmo delineamento experimental do ensaio de desempenho, utilizando-se o método tradicional de coleta de excretas. As aves que receberam DR apresentaram piores resultados (P<0,05) para peso médio, ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar. No duodeno e íleo, não houve efeito (P>0,05) sobre altura de vilos, entretanto, para altura de vilos no jejuno, e, profundidade de cripta e relação vilo:cripta em todos os segmentos, houve interação (P<0,05) entre os promotores avaliados, onde a DN contendo prebióticos apresentou melhores resultados. Não houve efeito dos promotores de crescimento sobre a microflora cecal, entretanto, entre as dietas, a DR apresentou maiores contagens de Lactobacilos e Bifidubacterium (P<0,05). A ração sem promotor de crescimento apresentou maiores teores (P<0,05) de triglicerídeos e cálcio. A DR reduziu (P<0,05) o nível de triglicerídeos, porém causou aumento (P<0,05) na deposição de gordura abdominal. Houve interação (P<0,05) entre dieta e promotores de crescimento para os coeficientes de digestibilidade ileal (CDI) da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB) e extrato etéreo (EE). A DR contendo antibiótico apresentou menor CDI da MS. A DN contendo antibiótico apresentou maior CDI da PB (P<0,05), enquanto que a DR contendo prebiótico apresentou melhor CDI da PB e do EE (P<0,05). Os valores dos coeficientes de digestibilidade total (CDT) da MS, PB e EE apresentaram interação (P<0,05) entre dietas e promotores de crescimento, onde a DR contendo antibiótico apresentou menor CDT da MS e do EE. A DN apresentou maiores valores de energia metabolizável aparente (EMA) e energia metabolizável aparente corrigida para balanço de nitrogênio (EMAn) (P<0,05). Conclui-se que os prebióticos podem ser utilizados como promotores de crescimento para frangos de corte, sem prejudicar o desempenho das aves e que, ao reduzir a exigência nutricional da ração, reduz-se a digestibilidade dos nutrientes

Einleitung: Das Darmmikrobiom, ein hochkomplexes Ökosystem an Mikroorganismen, geht eine lebenslange wechselseitige Beziehung mit seinem Wirt ein und beeinflusst wesentlich dessen Darmreifung post partum. Dazu interagieren Darmbakterien direkt und indirekt mit den intestinalen Stammzellen in den Krypten und regulieren Zellteilung und -differenzierung, wobei die Mechanismen nicht abschließend geklärt sind. Das Darmmikrobiom stellt eine wichtige Quelle für Mikroben-assoziierte molekulare Muster (MAMPs) dar, die von Mustererkennungsrezeptoren wie den Toll-like-Rezeptoren (TLR) auf den intestinalen Epithelzellen erkannt werden können. Somit können TLR auf den intestinalen Epithelzellen eine mögliche Verbindung zwischen Darmmikrobiom und Anpassungsreaktionen der Dünndarmmorphologie darstellen. Ziele der Untersuchung: Folgende Hypothesen sollten untersucht werden: 1. Die Anwesenheit von Darmbakterien beeinflusst die Morphologie der Dünndarmschleimhaut. 2. Diese Wirkung wird über Toll-like-Rezeptoren und den Hedgehog-Signalweg in Epithelzellen vermittelt. 3. Über diese Signalwege werden auch funktionelle Eigenschaften wie die Durchlässigkeit der Darmbarriere verändert. Tiere, Material und Methoden: Zur Untersuchung des Einflusses des Mikrobioms wurden in einem gnotobiotischen Mausmodell keimfreie Tiere mit dem minimalen mikrobiellen Konsortium Altered Schaedler Flora (ASF) besiedelt. Die ASF, welche sich aus acht definierten Bakterienarten zusammensetzt, wurde aus dem Caecum ASF-besiedelter C3H/HeNTac-Mäuse entnommen und männlichen und weiblichen keimfreien C57BL/6J-Mäusen appliziert. Der Nachweis der Bakterienspezies erfolgte aus bakterieller DNA, die aus frischen Kotpellets isoliert wurde. Der Vergleich wurde zwischen Dünndärmen ASF-kolonisierter Mäuse (n = 13), keimfreien Tieren (n = 8), konventionell gehaltenen (n = 7) und einer Gruppe Antibiotika-behandelter Mäuse (n = 8) durchgeführt. Zur Untersuchung des Einflusses der Toll-like-Rezeptoren TLR2 und TLR4 wurden epithelspezifische TLR2-defiziente (TLR2ΔIEC) bzw. TLR4-defiziente Mäuse (TLR4ΔIEC) verwendet und mit ihren jeweiligen Wildtyp-Geschwistertieren (WT) verglichen. Die morphometrische Eigenschaften des Dünndarms wurden anhand von histologischen Schnitten untersucht, die mit Hämatoxylin-Eosin oder Periodic-Acid-Schiff gefärbt waren. Hierbei wurden u.a. Mukosahöhe und Villuslänge gemessen sowie die Anzahl der Epithelzellen und Anzahl der Becherzellen pro Villus gezählt. Weiterhin wurden sowohl in Dünndarmgewebe als auch in isolierten intestinalen Epithelzellen mittels qPCR die mRNAExpression der Liganden des Hedgehog (Hh)-Signalwegs Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) und Indian Hedgehog (Ihh) sowie Hedgehog-Zielgene wie Glioma-associated oncogene transcription factor 1 (Gli-1), Patched-1 (Ptch-1) und Hedgehog Interacting Protein (Hhip) untersucht. In einem Teil der Tiere wurde der Hedgehog-Signalweg durch Applikation des Inhibitors Vismodegib gehemmt. Ein möglicher Einfluss auf die Permeabilität des Dünndarms wurde über die mRNA-Expression diverser Tight Junction-Proteine wie Occludin oder Claudin-4 sowie durch einen Permeabilitätsassay mit FITC-Dextran untersucht. Gruppenvergleiche wurden mit einer einfaktoriellen Varianzanalyse (ANOVA) und Holm-Šídák post-hoc Test bzw. zwischen den TLR2ΔIEC oder TLR4ΔIEC und WT-Mäusen mittels zweiseitigem ungepaarten t-Test durchgeführt. Unterschiede wurden bei P < 0,05 als statistisch signifikant betrachtet. Ergebnisse: Durch den Nachweis aller acht Bakterienarten in den Kotproben der behandelten Mäuse konnte die erfolgreiche Übertragung der ASF auf die Empfängertiere nachgewiesen werden. Hinsichtlich Mukosahöhe, Villuslänge, Anzahl der Epithelzellen und der Becherzellen wiesen keimfreie gegenüber konventionell gehaltenen Mäusen signifikant höhere Werte auf. Die Kolonisierung mit ASF führte zu einer signifikanten Verringerung dieser Merkmale, so dass sie sich denen der konventionell gehaltenen Tiere annäherten. Die mRNA-Expression der Hh-Liganden Shh und Ihh war sowohl im Dünndarm als auch in isolierten intestinalen Epithelzellen ASF-besiedelter Mäuse signifikant erhöht. Die Hh-Zielgene Gli-1, Ptch-1 und Hhip waren auf mRNA-Ebene im Dünndarm ASF-besiedelter Mäuse ebenfalls signifikant höher exprimiert. Mukosahöhe, Epithelzellzahl und Villuslänge waren im Jejunum von TLR2ΔIEC- und TLR4ΔIEC-Mäusen gegenüber ihren WT-Geschwistern signifikant höher. Während bei TLR2ΔIEC-Mäusen außer Shh alle untersuchten Hh-Zielgene vermehrt exprimiert waren, waren bei TLR4ΔIEC-Mäusen die gleichen Gene signifikant weniger exprimiert. Wurde hingegen der Hh-Signalweg in konventionell gehaltenen C57BL/6-Mäusen mit Vismodegib inhibiert, waren der Expression der Hh-Zielgene, des TLR2 und des TLR4 signifikant vermindert. Sowohl die Hemmung des Hh-Signalwegs mit Vismodegib als auch das Fehlen der epithelialen TLR2 oder TLR4 bedingte eine verminderte Expression von Tight Junction-Proteinen, die mit einer erhöhten Darmpermeabilität einherging. Konventionell gehaltene Mäuse hatten sowohl gegenüber keimfreien als auch gegenüber mit ASF besiedelten Tieren eine signifikant niedrigere Expression von Tight Junction-Proteinen, was mit einer signifikant höheren Darmpermeabilität verbunden war. Schlussfolgerungen: Zusammenfassend lassen die Ergebnisse dieser Studie darauf schließen, dass Darmbakterien über intestinale TLR2 und TLR4 den Hh-Signalweg regulieren und darüber die Morphologie der Dünndarmmukosa als auch deren funktionelle Eigenschaften wie die Durchlässigkeit der Darmbarriere beeinflussen. / Introduction: The intestinal microbiome, a highly complex ecosystem of microorganisms, enters into a lifelong reciprocal relationship with its host and significantly influences its intestinal maturation postpartum. To this end, intestinal bacteria interact directly and indirectly with intestinal stem cells in the crypts and regulate cell division and differentiation, although the mechanisms are not conclusively understood. The intestinal microbiome represents an important source of microbeassociated molecular patterns (MAMPs) that can be recognized by pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like-Receptors (TLRs) on intestinal epithelial cells. Thus, TLRs on intestinal epithelial cells may represent a potential link between gut microbiome and adaptation responses of small intestinal morphology. Aims: The following hypotheses should be investigated: 1. The presence of intestinal bacteria affects the morphology of the small intestinal mucosa. 2. This effect is mediated via Toll-like-Receptors and the Hedgehog signaling pathway in epithelial cells. 3. Functional properties such as the permeability of the intestinal barrier are also altered via these signaling pathways. Animals, materials and methods: To investigate the influence of the microbiome, germ-free animals were colonized with the minimal microbial consortium Altered Schaedler Flora (ASF) in a gnotobiotic mouse model. The ASF, which is composed of eight defined bacterial species, was harvested from the caecum of ASF-colonized C3H/HeNTac mice and applied to male and female germ-free C57BL/6J mice. Bacterial species were detected from bacterial DNA isolated from fresh fecal pellets. Comparison was made between small intestines of ASF-colonized mice (n = 13), germ-free animals (n = 8), conventionally housed (n = 7), and a group of antibiotic-treated mice (n = 8). To investigate the influence of Toll-like-Receptors TLR2 and TLR4, epithelial-specific TLR2-deficient (TLR2ΔIEC) or TLR4-deficient mice (TLR4ΔIEC) were used and compared with their respective wild-type (WT) littermates. Morphometric characteristics of the small intestine were examined using histological sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin or periodic-acid-Schiff. Here, mucosa height and villus length were measured, and the number of epithelial cells and number of goblet cells per villus were counted, among other measurements. Furthermore, mRNA expression of the ligands of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh) as well as Hedgehog target genes such as Gliomaassociated oncogene transcription factor 1 (Gli-1), Patched-1 (Ptch-1) and Hedgehog Interacting Protein (Hhip) were examined in small intestinal tissue as well as in isolated intestinal epithelial cells by qPCR. In a subset of animals, Hedgehog signaling was inhibited by application of the inhibitor Vismodegib. A possible influence on small intestinal permeability was investigated by mRNA expression of various tight junction proteins such as Occludin or Claudin-4 and by permeability assay with FITC-dextran. Group comparisons were performed with a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Holm-Šídák post-hoc test or between the TLR2ΔIEC or TLR4ΔIEC and WT mice by two-tailed unpaired t test. Differences were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. Results: Detection of all eight bacterial species in the fecal samples of treated mice demonstrated successful transfer of ASF to recipient animals. In terms of mucosa height, villus length, number of epithelial cells and goblet cells, germ-free mice had significantly higher values compared to conventionally housed mice. Colonization with ASF significantly decreased these characteristics to approach those of conventionally housed animals. The mRNA expression of the Hh ligands Shh and Ihh was significantly increased in the small intestine as well as in isolated intestinal epithelial cells of ASF colonized mice. The Hh target genes Gli-1, Ptch-1, and Hhip were also significantly higher expressed at the mRNA level in the small intestine of ASF-colonized mice. Mucosa height, epithelial cell number, and villus length were significantly higher in the jejunum of TLR2ΔIEC and TLR4ΔIEC mice compared with their WT littermates. Whereas in TLR2ΔIEC mice, except for Shh, all Hh target genes examined were increased in expression, the same genes were significantly less expressed in TLR4ΔIEC mice. In contrast, when the Hh pathway was inhibited with Vismodegib in conventionally maintained C57BL/6J mice, the expression of Hh target genes, TLR2, and TLR4 were significantly decreased. Both inhibition of the Hh pathway with Vismodegib and absence of epithelial TLR2 or TLR4 caused decreased expression of tight junction proteins, which was associated with increased intestinal permeability. Conventionally housed mice had significantly lower expression of tight junction proteins compared with both germ-free and ASF-populated animals, which was associated with significantly higher intestinal permeability. Conclusions: In summary, the results of this study suggest that intestinal bacteria regulate the Hh signaling pathway via intestinal TLR2 and TLR4 and thereby influence the morphology of the small intestinal mucosa as well as its functional properties such as intestinal barrier permeability.