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Dietary Fructooligosaccharide, Xylooligosaccharide and Gum Arabic Have Variable Effects on Cecal and Colonic Microbiota and Epithelial Cell Proliferation in Mice and Rats^1,2,3,

Michael D. Howard, Dennis T. Gordon^*, Keith A. Garleb and Monty S. Kerley⁴

Department of Animal Science ^* Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH 43215

Two experiments were conducted to determine if supplementing soluble fiber (fructooligosaccharide, xylooligosaccharide or gum arabic) to a semi-elemental diet would beneficially change cecal and colonic microbiota populations and enhance epithelial cell proliferation. Experiments 1 and 2 used identical dietary regimens; mice and rats were given free access to a powdered semi-elemental diet. Animals were assigned to one of the four following treatment groups: control, no supplemental dietary fiber, fructooligosaccharide, xylooligosaccharide and gum arabic. Dietary fiber was supplied via drinking water at 30 g/L. In Experiment 1 populations of Bifidobacteria and total anaerobic flora were enumerated from the contents of the cecum and colon of weanling mice. Consumption of fructooligosaccharide increased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of Bifidobacteria and the ratio of Bifidobacteria to total anaerobic flora. In Experiment 2 tissue from the cecum and distal colon of weanling rats was examined for morphological changes of the mucosa. Consumption of xylooligosaccharide increased (P < 0.05) cecal crypt depth and labeling index relative to the other three treatments. Consumption of gum arabic and the control diet increased (P < 0.01) cecal proliferation zone. Consumption of xylooligosaccharide and the control diet increased (P < 0.01) cecal cell density (number of cells in a vertical-half of the crypt). Distal colonic crypt depth was greatest (P < 0.05) in controls and rats fed fructooligosaccharide, intermediate in those fed gum arabic, and smallest in those fed xylooligosaccharide. These results suggest that fructooligosaccharide effectively stimulates growth of Bifidobacteria and xylooligosaccharide supports a modest enhancement of cecal epithelial cell proliferation.

KEY WORDS: • oligosaccharides • Bifidobacteria • epithelial cell proliferation • rats • mice

¹ Presented in part at 86th annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, July 11–15, 1994, Minneapolis, MN [Howard, M.D., Bunce, T. J., Gordon, D. T., Kerley, M. S. & Garleb, K. A. (1994) Effects of dietary soluble fibers on cecal and colonic microbiota and epithelial cell proliferation. J. Anim. Sci. 72 (Suppl. 1): 25 (abs.)].

² Supported by an unrestricted gift from Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories.

³ The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 USC section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

⁴ To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Manuscript received 6 February 1995. Revision accepted 24 May 1995.

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