Effect of dietary Flammulina velutipes (Curt.: Fr.) stem waste on ovarian follicles development in laying hens

Abstract

Flammulina velutipes is one of the most consumed mushrooms mainly produced in China but their stem base, which is a waste resource in production usually not used, but has revealed reducing cholesterol effects and preventing fatty liver. Considering the important role of ovarian development in poultry production and the unclear mechanism of dietary nutrition in ovarian development, the effect of F. velutipes stem waste (FVS) on ovarian follicle development in laying hens and its potential mechanism were investigated by adding 2%, 4% and 6% FVS to the diet of laying hens and the production performance, biochemical parameters, hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis hormone level, mRNA and protein changes on laying hens at sexual maturity and peak laying period were evaluated. FVS significantly improved the egg white weight and eggshell strength of laying hens, and markedly reduced the levels of lipid and abdominal fat. In addition to regulate lipid metabolism, FVS also inhibited the ovarian apoptosis pathway, reduced follicular atresia, increased the genes and proteins expression related to follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) and steroid hormone synthesis signal pathway, and increased the level of serum hormone. FVS could thus promote ovarian development by reducing cholesterol and other lipid levels, stimulating steroid hormone signalling pathway as well as improve the production performance of laying hens, suggesting that FVS could be added to poultry feed as a nutritional supplement. HIGHLIGHTS Flammulina velutipes stem waste can improve egg white weight and eggshell strength; Flammulina velutipes stem waste reduces ovarian apoptosis and inhibits follicular atresia; Flammulina velutipes stem waste can be used as a feed supplement to improve ovarian health in poultry;