Effect of different components of dietary fiber on the intestinal morphology of domestic rabbits.

A trial was conducted to study the effect of dietary fiber components (cellulose, pectin, lignin and alfalfa) on the performance and the intestinal structure of domestic rabbits. Different fiber components influenced villus height and muscle layer thickness of the jejunum and colon, and affected the crypt depth of the duodenum and ileum. A scanning electron microscope photograph showed a significant damage of the villi surface in the duodenum and jejunum by lignin supplementation; it also showed a significant damage in the cecal mucosa by cellulose, pectin and alfalfa supplementation.