The effect of copper nanoparticles and a different source of dietary fibre in the diet on the integrity of the small intestine in the rat

Body weight, feed intake, NMR body composition and internal organs weight in rats fed experimental diets; intestinal parameters in rats fed experimental diets; blood plasma parameters in rats fed experimental diets; small intestinal biochemical parameters in rats fed experimental diets; level of gene expression in the small intestine of rats fed experimental diets; morphological effects of different Cu sources or type of fibre in the diet on the small intestine of rats. Rats were randomly divided into 10 groups. The first two groups were fed a control diet that contained cellulose, and a mineral mixture with standard or enhanced content of CuCO3. Experimental groups were fed a diet supplemented with CuNPs (6.5 or 13 mg/kg) and combined with different types of fibre (cellulose, pectin, inulin or psyllium).