Dear All,

We supplemented a diet containing complex carbohydrates to the chicken and found a shift in microbiota composition and increased propionate and butyrate production in the caecal digesta. In addition, we observed significantly higher mRNA expression of mucin-2 and tight junction proteins such as Oclodin-1 and Claudin-1 in the jejunum and ileum. To this end, the altered caecal microbiota composition and SCFAs profiles can affect cecal gut integrity (mucin-2 and tight junction proteins) because metabolites, such as butyrate, can be absorbed by the cecal. Nevertheless, it is unclear how these complex carbohydrates affected the jejunal and ileum gut integrity? Is there a mechanism by which metabolites originated from the cecal could affect the small intestine?