抄録
Hydrolyzate of wheat bran hemicellulose was demonstrated to stimulate significantly the growth of bifidobacteria in the ceca of Wistar rats and ICR mice fed the purified diets including the hydrolyzate at 2.5% and 5.0% for 4 weeks. In contrast, Enterobacteriaceae, viridans streptococci, and staphylococci were decreased in numbers, especially at 5.0% level of the hydrolyzate. Lactobacilli were slightly increased in numbers, but not significantly, in mice. No significant changes were found in the numbers of the other examined microbes. The cecal concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids and acetic and propionic acids increased remarkably in both the animals in proportion to the rate of the hemicellulose hyrolyzate contained in the diets while those of iso-butyric and iso-valeric acids decreased. The butyric acid concentration increased in mice but not in rats. The cecal pH values were inversely proportional to the total concentrations of short-chain fatty acids.
