Diges i e O gans, Caecal Me aboli es and Fe men a ion Pa e n
in Coypus (Myocas o coypus) and Rabbi s (O yc olagus cuniculus)
M. MAROUNEK1,2, M. SK¤IVAN2, P. B¤EZINA3, I. HOZA3
1Ins i u e o Animal Physiology and Gene ics, Czech Academy o Sciences,
P ague, Czech Republic
2Resea ch Ins i u e o Animal P oduc ion, P ague, Czech Republic
3Facul y o Technology, TomበBaÈa Uni e si y in Zlín, Zlín, Czech Republic
Recei ed Sep embe 22, 2004
Accep ed Ma ch 3, 2005
Abs ac
Ma ounek M., M.Skfii an, P. Bfiezina, I. Hoza: Diges i e O gans, Caecal Me aboli es
and Fe men a ion Pa e n in Coypus (Myocas o coypus) and Rabbi s (O yc olagus cuniculus).
Ac a Ve . B no, 2005, 74: 3-7.
Six coypus and six abbi s ed he same g anula ed eed ad libi um we e slaugh e ed, diges i e
o gans wi h hei con en s weighed and diges a samples analyzed. The caecum was he la ges
diges i e o gan in bo h animal species. I s weigh a e aged 170 g in coypus and 157 g in abbi s (4.1
and 5.5% o he o al body weigh , espec i ely). In abbi s, he weigh o s omach was g ea e and
ha o he small in es ine smalle han in coypus (135 and 89 s 85 and 111 g). Gas ic acidi y, caecal
and colonic d y ma e concen a ion we e signi ican ly highe in abbi s. To al ola ile a y acids
(VFA) and ammonia concen a ions in he caecal con en s o coypus and abbi s we e simila (100.1
and 23.3 µmol/g in coypus, and 103.7 and 25.5 µmol/g in abbi s, espec i ely). Mola pe cen ages
o ace a e and p opiona e, howe e , we e signi ican ly highe and pe cen age o bu y a e lowe in
caecal VFA o coypus han in abbi s (P < 0.002). The caecal con en s we e dilu ed wi h bu e and
incuba ed anae obically o de e mine he caecal e men a ion pa e n. Caecal mic oo ganisms o
coypus p oduced mo e p opiona e and me hane, and less bu y a e and ale a e han caecal mic obes
o abbi s (P < 0.05). Thus, di e en majo hyd ogen sinks exis in he coypu and abbi caecum. In
conclusion, he e a e bo h di e ences and simila i ies in pa ame e s o diges ion in bo h animal
species. Caecal e men a ion pa e n di e ed mo e han o he pa ame e s in es iga ed.
Coypu, abbi , weigh , diges i e ac , diges ion, caecum, e men a ion
Coypus (Myocas o coypus) and abbi s (O yc olagus cuniculus) a e medium-sized
he bi o e animals wi h simila mo phological ea u es o he diges i e ac . In bo h species
he caecum is he p ima y si e o diges a e en ion and mic obial e men a ion. Bo h coypus
and abbi s p ac ise caeco ophy, i.e. p oduce wo ypes o aeces, so and ha d, and e-
inges so ones. So aeces ( e men ed caecal ma e ial) a e ich in nu ien s, whe eas ha d
aeces a e basically a e use. Compa a i e nu i ional ials wi h coypus and abbi s a e
sca ce, as well as wi h o he non- uminan he bi o es. Hullá e al. (1992ab) ound ha
coypus ib e equi emen and he signi icance o caeco ophy we e lowe , p obably due o
con inuous a ailabili y o low- ib e pa s o aqua ic plan s in he coypu’s na u al
en i onmen . A high- ib e eeds u (luce ne) was diges ed less e icien ly in coypus han in
abbi s, bu in case o eeds u s low in ib e (maize, whea ), o con aining he ib e in an
easily diges ible o m (whea b an) no di e ence in diges ibili y coe icien s was obse ed.
Caecal mic oo ganisms o coypus p oduced mo e p opiona e and me hane, and less bu y a e
han caecal mic oo ganisms o abbi s (Ma ounek e al. 1999).
This s udy has been aimed a ex ending ou knowledge on compa a i e diges i e
physiology o he bi o e animals. Thus, weigh s o diges i e o gans, acidi y and d y ma e
(DM) concen a ion o hei con en s, and concen a ion o caecal me aboli es we e
de e mined in coypus and abbi s ed he same die ad libi um, as well as he s oichiome y
o e men a ion in cul u es o caecal con en s.
ACTA VET. BRNO 2005, 74: 3–7
Add ess o co espondence:
P o . Ing. M. Ma ounek, D Sc.
Ins i u e o Animal Physiology and Gene ics
Czech Academy o Sciences, VídeÀská 1083
CZ - 142 20 P ague 4, Czech Republic
Phone: +420 267 090 507
Fax: +420 267 090 500
E-mail: [email p o ec ed]
h p://www. u.cz/ac a- e /ac a e .h m
Ma e ials and Me hods
Six b oile abbi s, Hyplus b eed, and six coypus we e ed ad libi um a comme cial g anula ed eed con aining luce ne
meal, whea b an, sun lowe meal, oa s, ba ley, suga bee pulp, and soyabean meal as he main ing edien s (Table 1).
Rabbi s and coypus we e slaugh e ed a he age o 3 and 6 mon hs, espec i ely, be ween 06:30 and 08:00 h. A e
slaugh e ing, he s omach, small in es ine, caecum and colon we e isola ed by liga ing o gans wi h a s ing o
p e en mo emen o he diges a. Diges i e o gans we e weighed and hei con en s squeezed ou in o beake s. In
all samples, he pH was measu ed and DM concen a ion de e mined by d ying a 105 °C. The caecal con en s (10 g)
we e added o 30 ml o wa e o Bu oughs bu e (Bu oughs e al. 1950) wi h yeas ex ac (1 g·l-1) and u ea
(0.5 g·l-1). To s op he e men a ion in o me samples, HgCl2was added immedia ely. The la e samples we e
incuba ed wi h o wi hou a subs a e (0.6 g o whea b an) in 100 ml se um bo les a 39 °C o 24 h. The bo les
we e ho oughly lushed wi h CO2and he me ically closed wi h ubbe s oppe s. Sodium sulphide was added o
he incuba ion luid a 0.5 g·l-1 as a educing agen . The pH (abo e 7 ini ially) ell by 0.7-0.9 in he cou se o he
incuba ion.
Con en s o ib e and a in he eed we e de e mined employing ins umen s Fibe ec 2010 and Sox ec 1043
om Teca o AB (Sweden). To al ni ogen (N) in he eed and caecal con en s was de e mined using he Kjel ec
Au o 1030 Analyse om he same i m. D ying a 105 °C and ashing a 550 °C we e used o de e mine DM and
ash concen a ion in he die , espec i ely. To al ola ile a y acids (VFA) we e es ima ed by i a ion, a e s eam
dis illa ion. Thei mola composi ion was de e mined on a gas ch oma og aph using a column o he Ch omoso b
WAW wi h 15% SP 1220/1% H3PO4(Supelco) a 140 °C. Samples o he headspace gas we e aken a he end o
he incuba ion and analysed on he same column. A he same ime, he manome ic p essu e in he incuba ion
essels was measu ed. Lac ic acid was assayed by he mic odi usion me hod (Conway 1957). Ammonia was
de e mined colo ime ically wi h Nessle eagen (a e p io sepa a ion om in e e ing compounds by
mic odi usion in Conway uni s) in samples dilu ed wi h wa e and cla i ied by cen i uga ion (8000 g o 20 min).
Me abolic hyd ogen balance was calcula ed acco ding o Demeye (1991), excep ha also he cap oa e
p oduc ion was aken in o accoun (Ma ounek e al. 2000):
2H eleased = 2A + P + 4B + 3V + 6C
2Haccep ed = 4M + 2P + 2B + 4V + 4C
2H eco e y = (2Haccep ed /2H eleased) .100%
whe e A, P, B, V, C and M ep esen mola p oduc ion o ace a e, p opiona e, bu y a e, ale a e, cap oa e and
me hane, espec i ely. Such calcula ion compa es he amoun s o me abolic hyd ogen p oduced and eco e ed in
educed end p oduc s. The signi icance o di e ences was e alua ed by he - es .
Resul s and Discussion
A he ime o slaugh e , he a e age body weigh o coypus was 4.13 ± 0.43 kg and ha
o abbi s 2.87 ± 0.36 kg. The caecum was he hea ies diges i e o gan in bo h animal species
(Table 2). Bo h s omach weigh and ela i e p opo ion o s omach weigh om he body
weigh we e g ea e in abbi s han in coypus. The gas ic pH was signi ican ly highe and
d y ma e concen a ion in he hindgu lowe in coypus han in abbi s. To al VFA, o al
N pe 1 g o DM and ammonia concen a ion in he caecal con en s o coypus and abbi s
we e simila (Table 3). In abbi s, caecal VFA concen a ion exceeded he uppe alue o
his ai epo ed by Ga cía e al. (2002) by 3.9 mmol/l. Ammonia N ep esen ed 4.81 and
4
Ing edien s (%) Nu ien s (g·kg-1)
Al al a meal 30 D y ma e 914
Whea b an 22.5 C ude ib e 194
Sun lowe meal 17 C ude p o ein 175
Oa 9 Fa 26
Ba ley 8 Ash 80
Suga bee pulp 6
Soyabean meal 3
Rapeseed oil 1.5
Vi amin supplemen 1
Limes one 1
Dicalciumphospha e 0.5
Sal 0.5
Table 1. Ing edien s and de e mined chemical composi ion o coypu and abbi die
3.93% o he o al N in he caecal con en s o coypus and abbi s, espec i ely. Mola
pe cen ages o ace a e and p opiona e we e signi ican ly highe and pe cen age o bu y a e
lowe in caecal VFA o coypus han in abbi s. The caecal con en s o coypus con ained mo e
lac a e (P< 0.002). Caecal mic oo ganisms o coypus p oduced signi ican ly mo e
p opiona e and me hane, and less bu y a e and ale a e han mic oo ganisms o abbi s
(Table 4).
Small amoun o cap oa e was p oduced in caecal cul u es o abbi s bu no in hose o
coypus. Hyd ogen eco e y in la e cul u es was signi ican ly highe . Me hane
ep esen ed 28.7 and 12.8% ( / ) o he headspace gas in subs a e-supplied cul u es o
he coypu and abbi caecal con en s, espec i ely. In subs a e- ee cul u es he o al
p oduc ion o VFA, gas and me hane we e dec eased (P< 0.05). This was accompanied
wi h a non-signi ican inc ease o 2H eco e y and ma ginal shi s in mola p opo ions
o indi idual VFA. The bu y a e mola pe cen ages, howe e , we e signi ican ly lowe in
abbi caecal cul u es wi hou he subs a e. Me hane ep esen ed 51.2 and 14.8% o he
headspace gas in subs a e- ee cul u es o he coypu and abbi caecal con en s,
espec i ely.
Coypus and abbi s belong o di e en o de s (Roden ia and Lagomo pha,
espec i ely), hough ela ed. They o igina e om di e en geog aphical egions wi h
di e en ecological condi ions. Hullá e al. (1992ab) showed ha despi e simila
ea u es o he coypu and abbi diges i e ac , abbi diges ibili y coe icien s canno be
5
Table 3. Caecal me aboli es in six coypus and six abbi s
Means ± SD
Values in pa en heses a e pe cen ages o o gan weigh om animal weigh
*Signi ican ly di e en om a co esponding alue in abbi s (P < 0.05)
Table 2. Weigh s o diges i e o gans o six coypus and six abbi s, diges a d y ma e concen a ion and pH
Coypus Rabbi s
To al VFAa100.1 ± 25.2 103.7 ± 15.8
Ace a eb73.9 ± 4.1* 62.8 ± 4.1
P opiona eb18.6 ± 2.2* 10.1 ± 4.1
Bu y a eb7.4 ± 2.0* 22.7 ± 3.7
O he VFAb0.1 ± 0.1* 4.4 ± 1.3
Lac a ea2.6 ± 0.3* 1.1 ± 0.1
To al Nc6.78 ± 0.48* 9.09 ± 1.24
To al Nd37.9 ± 2.8 37.7 ± 2.6
Ammonia Na23.3 ± 9.2 25.5 ± 8.0
Weigh (g) D y ma e (%) pH
Coypus
S omach 85.1 ± 14.3* (2.1%) 17.6 ± 1.8 3.80 ± 0.65*
Small in es ine 110.6 ± 13.9* (2.5%) 13.5 ± 1.3 6.98 ± 0.12
Caecum 169.8 ± 17.8 (4.1%) 17.9 ± 0.6* 6.10 ± 0.28
Colon 115.8 ± 20.2* (2.8%) 19.4 ± 1.7* 6.16 ± 0.25
Rabbi s
S omach 135.3 ± 15.8 (4.7%) 19.0 ± 3.0 2.39 ± 0.31
Small in es ine 89.2 ± 15.9 (3.1%) 11.4 ± 2.9 6.96 ± 0.11
Caecum 156.7 ± 18.4 (5.5%) 24.1 ± 1.9 5.81 ± 0.28
Colon 68.6 ± 13.5 (2.4%) 24.6 ± 2.2 6.10 ± 0.25
Means ± SD, aµmol/g, bmol.%, cmg/g, dmg/g DM
*Signi ican ly di e en om a co esponding alue in abbi s (P< 0.002)
used in he coypu nu i ion, especially in case o high- ib e eeds u s. In his s udy
coypus consumed eed p ima ily o mula ed o abbi s wi hou appa en p oblems.
A knowledge on diges i e physiology o coypus is poo . Conside ing he la ge caecum,
one could suppose a g ea simila i y be ween coypus and abbi s, which a e he bes -
s udied caecum e men e s. This assump ion was no e i ied in his s udy. A no ewo hy
di e ence in he diges i e mo phology o coypus and abbi s was a smalle size o he
s omach in o me animals, which may be he consequence o a limi ed ex en o he
caeco ophy. Low DM concen a ion in he coypu caecal and colonic con en s p obably
e lec s li le need o he conse a ion o wa e . Signi ican ly lowe DM concen a ion
in he coypu caecal con en s was obse ed also in ou p e ious s udy (Ma ounek e al.
1999).
The caecal e men a ion pa e n in coypus and abbi s di e ed. High p oduc ion o
p opiona e and me hane, and, consequen ly, high 2H eco e ies in he coypu caecal
cul u es indica e ha di e en majo hyd ogen sinks (me hanogenesis s syn hesis o
ace a e om CO2and H2) exis in he caeca o coypus and abbi s. This may be caused by
he composi ion o nu ien s lea ing he small in es ine and/o by di e en
mic oo ganisms colonizing he caeca. One mmol o CH4was p oduced pe 5.64 and 9.33
mmols o VFA in he coypu and abbi caecal cul u es wi h subs a e, espec i ely.
Co esponding alues in cul u es wi hou a subs a e we e 4.68 and 7.51. The lack o
e men able subs a e hus inc eased he ela i e impo ance o caecal me hanogenesis, as
obse ed also by Pia oni e al. (1997) in as ing abbi s. In conclusion, caecal
e men a ion pa e n di e ed in coypus and abbi s mo e han o he pa ame e s examined
in his s udy o epo ed by o he au ho s.
6
Subs a eaCoypus Rabbi s
To al VFAb+ 97.6 ± 17.2 81.2 ± 8.6
Ace a ec+ 64.1 ± 2.8 60.3 ± 3.3
P opiona ec+ 21.3 ± 1.9* 9.7 ± 1.0
Bu y a ec+ 11.1 ± 0.9* 22.3 ± 1.6
Vale a ec+ 0.7 ± 0.1* 2.6 ± 0.7
Cap oa ec+ 0* 1.6 ± 0.6
Isoacidsc+ 2.8 ± 0.5 3.5 ± 2.0
Me haneb+ 17.3 ± 2.7* 8.7 ± 2.4
Gasd+ 1.46 ± 0.37 1.64 ± 0.14
2H eco e ye+ 70.7 ± 6.9* 52.2 ± 7.8
To al VFAb– 50.5 ± 10.6 36.8 ± 8.7
Ace a ec– 66.0 ± 2.2* 61.1 ± 1.0
P opiona ec– 19.5 ± 1.3* 10.7 ± 1.1
Bu y a ec– 9.7 ± 0.8* 18.5 ± 1.1
Vale a ec– 1.5 ± 0.7* 3.1 ± 1.1
Cap oa ec– 0* 1.2 ± 0.4
Isoacidsc– 3.3 ± 2.2 5.4 ± 0.8
Me haneb– 10.8 ± 1.5* 4.9 ± 1.3
Gasd– 0.51 ± 0.23 0.80 ± 0.19
2H eco e ye– 77.0 ± 6.7* 57.7 ± 12.3
Table 4. P oduc ion o ola ile a y acids, me hane, gas and hyd ogen eco e y in cul u es o caecal
con en s o coypus and abbi s
Means o 4 cul u es ± SD, aWhea b an (0.6 g/40 ml), bµmol/g, cmol.%, dml/ml, e%
*Signi ican ly di e en om a co esponding alue in abbi s (P< 0.05)
Hmo nos i o gánÛ á icí sous a y, me aboli y obsahu slep˘ch s fie a e men aãní
s echiome ie u nu ií (Myocas o coypus) a k álíkÛ (O yc olagus cuniculus)
·es nu ií a ‰es k álíkÛ bylo k meno s ejn˘m g anulo an˘m k mi em ad libi um. Po
po áÏce byly áÏeny o gány á icí sous a y spolu s obsahem a obsah analyzo án. U ‰ech
z ífia byla hmo nos slepého s fie a û ‰í neÏ hmo nos Ïaludku, enkého s fie a ãi aãníku.
V p Ûmû u ãinila 170 g u nu ií a 157 g u k álíkÛ (4,1 a 5,5% celko é ûlesné hmo nos i).
P Ûmû ná hmo nos Ïaludku byla 135 g u k álíkÛ a 85 g u nu ií, hmo nos enkého s fie a 89
g u k álíkÛ a 111 g u nu ií. K álíci mûli y‰‰í acidi u obsahu Ïaludku a y‰‰í obsah su‰iny
zaÏi inû slepého s fie a a aãníku. Nálezy koncen ace ûka ˘ch mas n˘ch kyselin (TMK)
a amoniaku byly podobné (100,1 a 23,3 µmol/g u nu ií, 103,7 a 25,5 µmol/g u k álíkÛ).
Molá ní zas oupení TMK bylo ale signi ikan nû odli‰né: ace á u a p opioná u y‰‰í u nu ií,
bu y á u y‰‰í u k álíkÛ (p< 0,002). Obsahy slep˘ch s fie byly zfiedûny pu em
a inkubo ány za anae obních podmínek. Mik oo ganismy slep˘ch s fie nu ií p oduko aly
signi ikan nû íce p opioná u a me anu a ménû bu y á u a ale á u neÏ mik oo ganismy
slep˘ch s fie k álíkÛ (p< 0,05). Lze udíÏ kons a o a , Ïe s me abolick˘m odíkem
nakládají ozdíln˘m zpÛsobem. Pfies oÏe e zpÛsobu á ení lze u obou Ïi oãi‰n˘ch d uhÛ
shleda nûk e é podobnos i, exis uje i fiada ozdílÛ, zejména co se ˘ãe s echiome ie
e men ace slepém s fie u, k e é je pfii á ení os linné po a y u nu ií i k álíkÛ elmi
˘znamné.
Acknowledgemen
This s udy ecei ed inancial suppo om he Minis y o Educa ion, You h and Spo s o he Czech Republic
(p ojec OC 848.001 o he p og amme COST).
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