Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jörg Aschenbach
Königsweg 56, Hs. 11
14163 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 838 62600
E-Mail: joerg.aschenbach@fu-berlin.de

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The transport of nutrients and electrolytes in the gastrointestinal tract plays a crucial role in the health and performance of livestock. A better understanding of such transport processes and various influencing factors can not only improve feed utilisation, but also promote animal health and limit environmental pollution.

Our research group investigates the absorption of key nutrients (amino acids, sugars and short-chain fatty acids) and selected electrolytes (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) on a functional and molecular level in the gastrointestinal tract of different farm animals (poultry, pigs and ruminants). We focus on the localisation and function of different transport proteins in epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract in order to better understand the influence of intrinsic (e.g. age, sex, performance level and infections) and extrinsic factors (e.g. feeding, feed supplements and environmental factors) on intestinal function. In selected experimental approaches, the investigations extend to the metabolism of the organism as a whole. Methodologically, feeding studies, the Ussing chamber technique, cell culture techniques, various molecular biological techniques (quantitative RT-PCR, Western blots), immunofluorescence microscopy and, in some cases, omics techniques (metabolomics) are used.

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Figure 1: Insight into the Ussing chamber laboratory