Abstract
Simple SummarySodium butyrate has attracted considerable attention as a promising feed additive due to its biological function on the intestine. The results of the present study indicate that coated sodium butyrate could improve intestinal health via regulating inflammatory factors, enhancing the superoxide dismutase activity, as well as total antioxidative capacity activity of the small intestine, increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids and modulating the cecum microbial communities of laying hens. To the best of our knowledge, few reports on laying hens have investigated the effects of coated sodium butyrate on gut health by influencing cecal microflora and metabolites. This study will provide an alternative strategy for enhancing the gut health of laying hens.This study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary coated sodium butyrate (CSB) on the intestinal antioxidant, immune function, and cecal microbiota of laying hens. A total of 720 52-week-old Huafeng laying hens were randomly allocated into five groups and fed a basal diet supplemented with CSB at levels of 0 (control), 250 (S250), 500 (S500), 750 (S750), and 1000 (S1000) mg/kg for eight weeks. The results revealed that CSB supplementation quadratically decreased the malondialdehyde content and increased the superoxide dismutase activity of the jejunum as well as the total antioxidative capacity activity of the ileum (p < 0.05). Dietary CSB supplementation linearly decreased the diamine oxidase and D-lactic acid content of the serum (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the addition of CSB resulted in linear and/or quadratic effects on the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 in the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05). The short-chain fatty acid concentrations increased quadratically as supplemental CSB improved (p < 0.05). Additionally, dietary CSB levels had no effect on microbial richness estimators, but ameliorated cecal microbiota by raising the abundance of probiotics and lowering pathogenic bacteria enrichment. In conclusion, our results suggest that dietary supplementation with CSB could improve the intestinal health of laying hens via positively influencing the antioxidant capacity, inflammatory cytokines, short-chain fatty acids, and gut microbiota. In this study, 500 mg/kg CSB is the optimal supplement concentration in the hens’ diet.
Highlights
The intestine acts as a dynamic system consisting of interactions among the gut flora, epithelial barrier, and immune cells [1]
Intestinal Barrier Function and Gene Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines As exhibited in Figure 2, in the serum, dietary coated sodium butyrate (CSB) treatment did not change the content of total bile acid (TBA), but markedly decreased the D-lactic acid (DL) and Diamine oxidase (DAO) content in a linear and quadratic manner; as shown in Figure 3, the mRNA expressions of TNF-α in the jejunum were quadratically decreased as the dietary CSB levels improved
We assessed the effects of dietary CSB levels on the intestinal antioxidant, immune function, and cecal microbiota of laying hens
Summary
The intestine acts as a dynamic system consisting of interactions among the gut flora, epithelial barrier, and immune cells [1]. Sodium butyrate as a green feed additive attracts considerable attention on account of its biological function on the intestines in livestock [6]. Studies have proved that sodium butyrate could not merely strengthen the function of intestinal defense and effectively ameliorate oxidative stress, and has potential immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties in the gut [9,10]. As recently reported in turbot fed with high-soybean meal diets, sodium butyrate could improve the intestinal barrier function and restore the intestinal flora imbalance by altering the abundance of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Deinococcus-Thermus, and Actinobacteria [1]. The study by Yang et al [12] demonstrated that butyrate glycerides can promote chicken health and well-being via altering intestinal microbiota composition
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