Oyster-extract (OE) intake can afford numerous health benefits, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiplatelet aggregation, and antihyperglycemic effects. This study examined the effect of OE intake on the intestinal barrier function in mice. C57BL/6 J mice (4-week-old male) were fed either the AIN93G diet (control group) or the AIN93G diet containing 5.0% (w/w) OE (OE group). After 28 days of the experimental diet feeding, feces, distal ileum, and distal colon were collected. Fecal mucin contents were quantified using a fluorometric assay kit that discriminates O-linked glycoproteins from N-linked glycoproteins. The gene expression levels of Mucin (Muc) 1 and 2 in the distal ileum and colon were measured by real-time PCR. Fecal mucin contents were significantly increased in the OE group compared to the control group (p<0.01). The Muc2 expression level in the distal ileum was significantly increased in the OE group compared to the control group (p<0.01). These results indicate that OE intake increased the ileum Muc2 expression level and fecal mucin content in mice. OE intake may enhance intestinal barrier function by increasing mucin secretion in the distal ileum.
