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Three experiments were conducted to determine the AID and SID of protein and AA in pea protein isolate(PPI), distiller's dried grains with solubles derived from a blend of wheat and corn (wcDDGS) and corn. In addition, 2 experiments were conducted to estimate the requirements of digestible SAA (dSAA) and digestible lysine (dLYS)for 3-week old broilers to obtain optimum growth performance(BWG,FCR),and optimum yield performance(CY, BMY and TDY). For digestibility studies, day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed test diets from day 1-14. The test-diets were balanced for vitamins and minerals and contained chromic oxide (0.3%) as an indigestible marker. The protein and AA digestibilities were determined either by direct or indirect method. For requirement studies, day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed lysine- or SAA deficient basal diets balanced for all other AA, except for the AA under test, according to the ideal protein concept. All test diets were also balanced for vitamins and minerals and were kept isonoitrogenous and isocaloric within each assay. The average SID estimates (%)of AA were 92.4, 71.5 and 93.3 in PPI, wcDDGS and corn, respectively. Using regression analysis, the dietary dLYS requirement estimates(%) were 1.12 and 1.13 for BWG and FCR, respectively. The dietary dSAA requirement estimate was 0.81% for BWG while no significant response was observed for FCR. Both CY and BMY increased cubically with increasing levels of dLYS, whereas, CY didnot respond significantly and BMY increased linerally with the increasing levels of dSAA.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the AID and SID of protein and AA in pea protein isolate(PPI), distiller's dried grains with solubles derived from a blend of wheat and corn (wcDDGS) and corn. In addition, 2 experiments were conducted to estimate the requirements of digestible SAA (dSAA) and digestible lysine (dLYS)for 3-week old broilers to obtain optimum growth performance(BWG,FCR),and optimum yield performance(CY, BMY and TDY). For digestibility studies, day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed test diets from day 1-14. The test-diets were balanced for vitamins and minerals and contained chromic oxide (0.3%) as an indigestible marker. The protein and AA digestibilities were determined either by direct or indirect method. For requirement studies, day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were fed lysine- or SAA deficient basal diets balanced for all other AA, except for the AA under test, according to the ideal protein concept. All test diets were also balanced for vitamins and minerals and were kept isonoitrogenous and isocaloric within each assay. The average SID estimates (%)of AA were 92.4, 71.5 and 93.3 in PPI, wcDDGS and corn, respectively. Using regression analysis, the dietary dLYS requirement estimates(%) were 1.12 and 1.13 for BWG and FCR, respectively. The dietary dSAA requirement estimate was 0.81% for BWG while no significant response was observed for FCR. Both CY and BMY increased cubically with increasing levels of dLYS, whereas, CY didnot respond significantly and BMY increased linerally with the increasing levels of dSAA.

Objectives: Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), the removal of the colon and formation of a reservoir from ileum, is the surgery of choice for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. Yet, 10 to 35% of patients develop pouchitis, an inflammation of the pouch mucosa. Microbial imbalances are observed in pouchitis and inulin has been suggested as a prebiotic treatment. Our objectives were to determine the effect of inulin supplementation on quality of life (QOL), and its practicality and safety as a treatment in IPAA patients.<p> Methods: Adults with IPAA (n= 8) consented to a blinded, placebo-controlled trial of inulin supplementation. Baseline symptoms were measured for 1 month prior to supplementation, followed by a blinded low-dose (5 g of inulin) or placebo (maltodextrin) for 2 weeks and a higher-dose (10 g) for 5.5 months. Participants recorded any symptoms that they experienced in a diary and QOL was assessed using the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) at the beginning and end of the study.<p> Results: Two participants in the same group developed significant side effects on the 10 g supplementation; abdominal discomfort, severe gas, and small amounts of blood with defecation were reported. Unblinding determined that these participants were taking the active treatment (inulin); therefore, the study was stopped early. No differences were observed in SIBDQ scores.<p> Implications & Conclusions: In this pilot study, inulin appeared to be ineffective in improving QOL and may have contributed to unpleasant side effects. Future research should explore synbiotic therapy in IPAA, by combining prebiotics and probiotics for optimal results.

Objectives: Ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA), the removal of the colon and formation of a reservoir from ileum, is the surgery of choice for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. Yet, 10 to 35% of patients develop pouchitis, an inflammation of the pouch mucosa. Microbial imbalances are observed in pouchitis and inulin has been suggested as a prebiotic treatment. Our objectives were to determine the effect of inulin supplementation on quality of life (QOL), and its practicality and safety as a treatment in IPAA patients.<p> Methods: Adults with IPAA (n= 8) consented to a blinded, placebo-controlled trial of inulin supplementation. Baseline symptoms were measured for 1 month prior to supplementation, followed by a blinded low-dose (5 g of inulin) or placebo (maltodextrin) for 2 weeks and a higher-dose (10 g) for 5.5 months. Participants recorded any symptoms that they experienced in a diary and QOL was assessed using the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) at the beginning and end of the study.<p> Results: Two participants in the same group developed significant side effects on the 10 g supplementation; abdominal discomfort, severe gas, and small amounts of blood with defecation were reported. Unblinding determined that these participants were taking the active treatment (inulin); therefore, the study was stopped early. No differences were observed in SIBDQ scores.<p> Implications & Conclusions: In this pilot study, inulin appeared to be ineffective in improving QOL and may have contributed to unpleasant side effects. Future research should explore synbiotic therapy in IPAA, by combining prebiotics and probiotics for optimal results.

A study was designed to determine the effects of enzyme supplementation on poults fed commercially based diets which included; corn, soybean meal (SBM), ground wheat with meat and bone meal (0-21 days) or propak (22-56 days). Day old turkey poults (n=3850) were randomly divided into 35 pens and fed one of five dietary treatments for 56 days. Performance parameters, feed intake (FI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio(FCR) and mortality, were evaluated for the following periods: 0-4 (1A), 4-8 (2A), 8-12 (3A), 12-16 (4A), 16-21 (5A), 0-21 (A), 21-42 (B) and 42-56 (C). In addition, ileal contents along with duodenal, jejunal and ileal (n=7/trt) sampling occurred during the afore mentioned periods. Significance was determined at P < 0.05. Treatments included: a positive control (PC), a negative control (NC) (corn matrix adjustment of 140 kcals), and NC diets supplemented with Avizyme^&#174;1502 (AZ) at; 250, 500 or 750g/MT. Avizyme treatments significantly improved ADG over the PC during periods 2A, 3A, A and B. However, period 1A had significant decreases in ADG with enzyme inclusion. Period B experienced FCR improvement with AZ. Both energy and protein ileal digestibility were decreased with enzyme inclusion during periods 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, A and B. Villus height and crypt depth did not respond to dietary treatment, though a significant interaction of age and villus height occurred. Villus heights were similar during periods A and B; however, from period B to C, villus height dramatically increased in the PC diet over other treatments. / Master of Science

Obesity and Diabetes, the major cause for morbidity and mortality in United States raises a general curiosity regarding health care expenses when talked about treating them. Every year approximately 300,000 US adults die of reasons associated to obesity and diabetes, becoming the sixth leading cause of death. The prevalence of those diagnosed with diabetes witnessed an exponential curve in the last decade and for the year 2011 about 8.3% of the population in the US has been diagnosed with diabetes and it is predicted that in the year 2030 the prevalence of diabetes is to reach 4.4% globally. Type 2 diabetes is a condition, which develops when the body no longer makes enough insulin or when the insulin so produced does not work effectively. In reaction to the increase in obesity, treatments for obesity became more common especially the pharmacological treatments. Since this treatment also required one to change their lifestyle and food habits, bariatric surgeries were considered as an option to treat obesity and diabetes. A range of surgical procedures have been used to stimulate weight loss for obese patients. These procedures resulted in weight loss by restricting the size of the stomach (Gastric Banding) or bypassing a portion of the intestine (Gastric Bypass). Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) accomplishes weight loss during a combination of gastric restriction and malabsorption. Reduction of the stomach to a small gastric pouch results in feelings of satiety. The RYGB procedure has been performed regularly since the early 1980s; it was first performed laparoscopically in the early 1990s. Ileal interposition (IT) is a surgical procedure where a section of ileum is snipped and moved closer to the jejunum. It is said that the food takes just ten minutes to reach the ileum instead of an hour after this procedure. The ileum produces Glucagon like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) which helps in insulin secretion. Glucose is a key stimulator for mammals and is derived from the diet consumed, transferred from the circulation into the target cells. Glucose penetrates the eukaryotic cells through membrane associated carrier proteins, the Na+ coupled glucose transporter (SGLT-1) and the glucose transporter (GLUT). These transporters are structurally and functionally distinct. The main research question was "are the receptors involved in glucose transport across the membrane (GLUT2 and SGLT1) important for Ileal Interposition"? With experiments like real time PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), we have observed the differences in the expression of these receptors with respect to the location and organ. Ileal interposition showed a significant difference (p<0.01) compared to sham-operated rats in the expression of GLUT2 in the gluconeogenic organs. The increased GLUT2 levels in ileal interposition may explain glucose sensitivity and these data emphasize the need for GLUT2 to maintain a positive glucose homeostasis and further study on SGLT1/GLUT2 influence on gluconeogenesis.

nÃo hà / Esse estudo tem por finalidade avaliar os efeitos de inibidores seletivos da COX (cetorolaco e celecoxibe) e de inibidores nÃo seletivos (indometacina) da COX sobre o transporte ileal de Ãgua e eletrÃlitos em ratos anestesiados. TambÃm se propÃe a avaliar as alteraÃÃes vilo/cripta do Ãleo de ratos tratados com inibidores seletivos e nÃo seletivos da COX-1 e 2 (cetorolaco-inibidor especÃfico da COX-1 na dose de 3mg/Kg, celecoxibe-inibidor especÃfico da COX-2 e indometacina-inibidor nÃo seletivo da COX). Os animais foram tratados per os durante trÃs dias consecutivos com uma das seguintes substÃncias: cetorolaco (3mg/Kg), celecoxibe (10mg/Kg), indometacina (5mg/Kg), cetorolaco + celecoxibe, salina 0,9% ou tampÃo fosfato. Todos os AINES aqui utilizados foram diluÃdos em soluÃÃo salina (Nacl a 0,9%) exceto a indometacina que foi diluÃda em soluÃÃo tampÃo fosfato. ApÃs jejum de 24 horas com livre acesso à Ãgua, os animais foram anestesiados com Uretana (1,2mg /kg corporal, i.p). A seguir realizou-se laparotomia mediana para isolamento do segmento a ser perfundido. CÃnulas foram introduzidas nas extremidades proximal e distal do segmento mediante criaÃÃo de fÃstulas. O segmento isolado e as cÃnulas formaram o circuito que foi perfundido. Para a perfusÃo foi utilizada soluÃÃo modificada de Ringer e FenolsulftaleÃna 50mg/L como marcador nÃo absorvÃvel. O perfusato foi coletado em tubos de ensaio apÃs 40min (03 amostras). TambÃm foram obtidas 3 (trÃs) amostras no inÃcio e no final (03 amostras) do experimento, para determinaÃÃo dos parÃmetros controle. Foram determinadas as diferenÃas entre as amostras controle e as coletas do perfusato quanto aos valores das concentraÃÃes de sÃdio, potÃssio e cloreto (mmol/L). Ao final do experimento, os animais foram sacrificados e o segmento ileal perfundido retirado, sendo imediatamente pesado, depois retirados anÃis distais de aproximadamente 0,5 cm para o histopatolÃgico. Nova mediÃÃo de peso desse segmento foi realizada apÃs o mesmo ser mantido em estufa a 100oC por 48h, de modo a permitir a correÃÃo dos parÃmetros funcionais. A administraÃÃo de cetorolaco aos animais promoveu secreÃÃo ileal de Ãgua, de sÃdio, cloreto e potÃssio. Por outro lado, o tratamento com celecoxib, sozinho ou em associaÃÃo com cetorolaco, bem como o tratamento com indometacina nÃo desencadearam alteraÃÃes significativas na secreÃÃo de Ãgua, sÃdio, cloro e potÃssio, quando comparado com os grupos controles. Em relaÃÃo as alteraÃÃes morfomÃtricas, os tratamentos com celecoxibe sozinho ou em associaÃÃo com cetorolaco, promoveram um aumento da relaÃÃo vilo/cripta. Por outro lado, a administraÃÃo de cetorolaco aos animais nÃo modificou a relaÃÃo vilo/cripta quando comparado com o controle. Por outro lado, no tratamento com indometacina, a administraÃÃo de indometacina apresentou uma diminuiÃÃo na relaÃÃo vilo/cripta, quando comparado com o controle. Baseado nestes dados podemos concluir, que a inibiÃÃo da COX-1 pelo cetorolaco, mas nÃo a inibiÃÃo da COX-2 pelo celecoxib, desencadeia uma alteraÃÃo funcional na secreÃÃo de Ãgua e eletrÃlitos no Ãleo, pois nÃo houve lesÃo do epitÃlio na anÃlise histolÃgica do intestino de ratos tratados com a cetorolaco. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of selective and non-selective COX inhibitors on water and electrolyte transport and the villous/crypt ratio in the ileum of anesthetized rats. Thirty-six animals distributed in 6 groups were treated with 3mg/Kg ketorolac (a selective COX-1 inhibitor), 10mg/Kg celecoxib (a selective COX-2 inhibitor), 5mg/Kg indometacin (a non-selective COX inhibitor),ketorolac+celecoxib, 0.9% saline solution or phosphate buffer for 3 consecutive days. Ketorolac and celecoxib were diluted in 0.9% saline solution, while indometacin was diluted in phosphate buffer. Following 24 hours of fasting with access to water ad libitum, the animals were anesthetized with 1.2mg/Kg urethane i.p. and submitted to median laparotomy to isolate an ileal segment for perfusion. Cannulae were introduced through surgically created fistulas in the proximal and distal extremities of the segment. Perfusion was performed with modified Ringer solution containing 50mg/L phenolsulfonphthalein (a non-absorbable marker). After 40 minutes, 3 samples of perfusate were collected. In addition, 3 control samples were collected at baseline and by the end of the experiment for comparison of sodium, potassium and chloride concentrations (mmol/L). Finally the animals were euthanized, the extremities of the perfused segment were cut off (5-mm rings) for histopathological examination and the segment was weighed. After 48 hours of storage at 100oC, the segment was weighed again in order to correct the functional parameters. The administration of ketorolac promoted secretion of ileal water, sodium, potassium and chlorine. However, treatment with celecoxib alone or with ketorolac, and indomethacin treatment did not induce significant changes in the secretion of water, sodium, potassium and chlorine, when compared with control groups. In the histological evaluation, treatment with celecoxib alone or in combination with ketorolac, induced an increase in villous / crypt ration. On the other hand, ketorolac administration did not change the villous / crypt ration when we compared with the control. Indomethacin treatment induced a decrease in villous / crypt ration compared with the control. Based on these data we can conclude that inhibition of COX-1 by ketorolac, but not COX-2 inhibition by celecoxib, induced a functional change in the ileal water and electrolytes secretion, since there was not epithelial damage in the histological analysis of intestine of rats treated with ketorolac.

nÃo hà / Està bem estabelecido que a regulaÃÃo dos lÃquidos corporais seja garantida pela interaÃÃo funcional entre os sistemas cardiovascular e renal. Atualmente, evidÃncias clÃnicas e experimentais sugerem que o trato gastrintestinal (TGI) ajusta seu padrÃo motor e absortivo apÃs variaÃÃes agudas da volemia. Embora a insuficiÃncia renal parcial ou total promova variaÃÃes dos volumes corporais circulantes, poucos estudos apontam a relaÃÃo entre a insuficiÃncia renal e o funcionamento do trato gastrintestinal. Neste trabalho, estudamos o efeito da dieta salina sobre a motilidade gastrintestinal [esvaziamento gÃstrico (EG) e o trÃnsito gastrintestinal (GI) de lÃquidos] e transporte intestinal (IT) de Ãgua e eletrÃlitos (Na+, K+ e Cl-) em ratos nefrectomizados parcialmente (nefre5/6) ou falso-operados (FO) em condiÃÃes de hidrataÃÃo e desidrataÃÃo. Para tanto, 138 ratos Wistar, machos (180-220g), submetidos à nefrectomia parcial (nefre5/6) em duas etapas (0 e 7 dias). ApÃs nefre 5/6 ou FO, os animais foram distribuÃdos em dois grupos diferentes, a saber: raÃÃo e salina 1% ou raÃÃo e Ãgua. ApÃs 3d e, sob jejum de 24h com livre acesso à salina ou Ãgua, 1,5ml da refeiÃÃo teste (vermelho fenol 0,5mg/ml e glicose 5%) foi administrada por gavagem em animais acordados. Decorridos 10, 20 ou 30min, os animais foram sacrificados por deslocamento cervical, seguidos da exÃrese das vÃsceras abdominais para determinaÃÃo da taxa de EG e trÃnsito GI. AlÃm disso, um experimento semelhante foi realizado utilizando 5ml de polietilenoglicol-PEG (30% - 20.000 DA) injetado por via subcutÃnea em ratos quatro horas antes do inÃcio do experimento, a fim de simular as condiÃÃes de desidrataÃÃo. Para os estudos do transito intestinal de Ãgua e eletrÃlitos, os animais anestesiados, foram submetidos à perfusÃo ileal com Ringer + vermelho fenol durante 60min. Para todos os experimentos, monitoramos os parÃmetros hemodinÃmicos (pressÃo arterial-PA, pressÃo venosa central-PVC, frequÃncia cardÃaca-FC e volume sanguÃneo-VS) e ainda as concentraÃÃes bioquÃmicas plasmÃticas de Ur, Cr, Na+, K+ e Cl- foram determinadas. Em relaÃÃo ao grupo FO a dieta salina nÃo modificou o EG ou transito GI, nem os parÃmetros hemodinÃmicos ou bioquÃmicos, porÃm promoveu secreÃÃo ileal de Ãgua e eletrÃlitos. Por outro lado, a dieta salina nos animais nefre5/6 promoveu: i) aumento da retenÃÃo gÃstrica de 47%, 26% e 38% (10, 20 e 30 minutos de tempo pÃs-prandial, respectivamente), ii aceleraÃÃo do trÃnsito GI, iii) aumento na secreÃÃo ileal de Ãgua e eletrÃlitos e, iv) aumento da PA, PVC, FC, BV. A desidrataÃÃo aguda com PEG preveniu as alteraÃÃes da motilidade, da secreÃÃo GI e dos parÃmetros hemodinÃmicos secundÃrios hipervolemia crÃnica à custa da nefrectomia 5/6 associada à dieta salina. A motilidade gastrintestinal e o ajuste da absorÃÃo, devido à dieta salina sobre os animais submetidos à nefrectomia parcial, estÃo relacionados aos nÃveis do volume do sangue e pode ser revertida por desidrataÃÃo aguda. Em conclusÃo, trato gastrointestinal pode ajustar tanto o seu motor, bem como atividades de absorÃÃo apÃs desequilÃbrios crÃnicos volume de sangue. / It is well established that the regulation of the corporal fluids is guaranteed by functional interaction between cardiovascular and renal systems. Currently, clinical and experimental evidences suggest that gastrointestinal (GI) tract (GIT) adjust their motor and absorptive activities due to acute changes in the blood volume. Although total or partial renal failure promotes corporal fluids changing. Several studies indicate a relationship among renal failure and GIT functions. In this work, we study the effect of a salt diet on GIT motility [gastric emptying (GE) and GI transit of liquids] and intestinal transport (IT) of H2O and electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl-) in partial nephrectomized (nefre5/6) or false-operated (FO) rats under hydrated and dehydrate conditions. For that, 138 male Wistar rats (180-220g) submitted to partial nephrectomy (nefre5/6) in two steps (0 and 7 days). After nefre5/6 or FO procedures, animals were distributed into 2 different experiments both containig two groups as follows: feed+1% saline or feed+water. For the hydrate conditions experiment, after 3d and under 24-hour fasting with free access to water or saline, 1.5ml of the test meal (phenol red 0.5 mg/mL containg 5% glucose) was gavaged in the awake animals. Next 10, 20 or 30 minutes, the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Following, excision of the abdominal viscera was performed in order to determine the GE rate and GI transit. Additionally, similar experiment were performed using 5mL of polyethylene glycol-PEG (30% - 20,000 DA) injected subcutaneous in the rats 4 hours before the beginning of the experiment in order to simulate the dehydrate conditions. For IT studies, anesthetized animals underwent ileal perfusion with Ringer+phenol red solution and were monitored along 60 min. For all experiments, mean arterial pressure - MAP, central venous pressure-CVP, heart rate-HR and blood volume-BV were monitored. Also, plasmatic concentrations of Ur, Cr, Na+, K+ and Cl- were determined. Compared with FO group, nefre5/6 did not change the GE or GI transit, neither hemodynamic or biochemical parameters, but promotes ileal secretion of water and electrolytes. On the other hand, comparing the salt diet and standard diet, the nefre5/6 animals caused: i) increases on the gastric retention of 47%, 26% and 38% (at 10, 20 and 30 minutes of postprandial time, respectively), ii) acceleration of the GI transit, iii) increases on the ileal secretion of water and electrolytes and, iv) increases BP, CVP, HR and BV. However, changes on the other plasmatic biochemical parameters were not observed in this study. The acute dehydration with PEG prevented gut motility and hemodynamic changes and the increase of gastrointestinal secretions. Gastrointestinal motility and absorptive adjustments due to salt diet on the partial nephrectomized animals, is related to blood volume levels and, can be reversed by acute dehydration. In conclusion, gastrointestinal tract can adjust both their motor as well as absorptive activities after chronic blood volume imbalances.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-24Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:04:37Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 torres_kaa_dr_jabo.pdf: 619941 bytes, checksum: e0160fe883801063a539b7087e557875 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Experimento 1: Foram avaliados os efeitos da substituição do milho pelo sorgo na ração para frangos de corte sobre o desempenho, o rendimento de carcaça e partes, a morfometria (densidade de vilos, altura dos vilos, profundidade das criptas, número de células caliciformes e índice mitótico nas criptas) e a integridade da mucosa do duodeno, jejuno e íleo, e a atividade das enzimas de membrana (aminopeptidase, fosfatase alcalina e maltase) da mucosa do jejuno. Foram utilizados 792 pintainhos de um dia machos, Cobb-500, distribuídos ao acaso em quatro tratamentos (0, 50, 75 ou 100% de substituição do milho pelo sorgo do 1º ao 42º dia) e seis repetições. No 7º, 21º e 42º dia o peso dos frangos e as sobras das rações foram aferidas, e foram obtidas amostras do intestino delgado de um frango por repetição. Experimento 2: Foi avaliado o efeito da substituição total do milho pelo sorgo sobre as Enterobactérias, Lactobacillus spp, Clostridium perfringens (Log10 UFC/g), a viscosidade e o pH do conteúdo ileal. Cem pintainhos foram distribuídos em dois grupos e alimentados com rações à base de milho ou sorgo do 1º ao 42º dia de idade. Concluiu-se desses experimentos que a substituição do milho da ração por sorgo, na fase inicial (1 a 21 dias), não altera o desempenho e a função da mucosa do intestino delgado dos frangos. A substituição parcial do milho pelo sorgo (50 ou 75%) durante a fase total de criação (1 a 42 dias) melhora a conversão alimentar dos frangos. A substituição total (100%), até os 42 dias, prejudica a estrutura dos vilos do duodeno e jejuno, mas, diminui a colonização por Clostridium perfringens no íleo e a viscosidade do conteúdo ileal. A substituição de 75 ou 100% até os 42 dias diminui a atividade de aminopeptidase e maltase. O rendimento de carcaça e partes, a atividade da fosfatase alcalina intestinal e as populações... / Experiment 1: The effects of substitution of corn by sorghum in diets for broiler chickens on performance, carcass and parts (breast and thigh+drumstick), morphology (density of villi, villous height, depth crypts, number of goblet cells and mitotic index in the crypts) and integrity (score of epithelial loss) of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum mucosa, and the activity of membrane enzymes (aminopeptidase, intestinal alkaline phosphatase, and maltase) of the jejunum. We used 792 day-old chicks male Cobb-500, were randomly assigned to four treatments (0, 50, 75 or 100% replacement of corn by sorghum 1 to 42 days) and six replications. At 7, 21 and 42 days the weight of the chickens and the remains of the diets were measured, and samples were collected from the small intestine of a chicken for replication. Experiment 2: The effect of total substitution of corn by sorghum on the counts of Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus spp and Clostridium perfringens, viscosity and pH of ileal contents. One hundred chicks were divided into two groups and fed diets based on corn or sorghum, 1 to 42 days of age. From the results of these experiments it was concluded that the substitution of corn by sorghum in the initial phase (1 to 21 days) does not affect the performance and function of small intestinal mucosa of chickens. The partial substitution of corn by sorghum (50 or 75%) during the total period (1 to 42 days) seems to improve feed conversion of chickens. Total substitution (100%), up to 42 days, affect the structure of the villi of the duodenum and jejunum, but reduced colonization by Clostridium perfringens in the ileum and the viscosity of ileal contents. The replacement of 75 or 100% up to 42 days reduces the activity of aminopeptidase and maltase. The carcass and parts, the activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase and the count of Enterobacteriaceae and Lactobacillus spp, are not affected by treatments