Abstract
Simple SummaryExcessive fat deposition in broiler chickens is detrimental for both producers and consumers. Fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) was proposed as a potential method to relieve fat deposition in broilers’ rearing, while the physiological and metabolic mechanisms behind that still remain unclear. This study showed that both abdominal fat content and subcutaneous fat thickness significantly decreased in response to dietary FCSM supplementation at the age of 21 d, and altered the lipid-related metabolites index in serum, liver, and abdominal fat. Moreover, serum metabolic pathways were clustered into organic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism.This study aimed to investigate the changes of lipid-related gene and serum metabolites in broiler chickens fed with fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) diet, through quantitative real-time PCR and metabolomics analysis. Totally, 180 1-day-old Cobb broilers were randomly assigned to two groups with six replicates of 15 birds in each. The two diets consisted of a control diet supplemented with 0% FCSM (CON group) and an experimental diet with 6% FCSM (fermented by Candida tropicalis) replacing the soybean meal (FCSM group). The results showed that both abdominal fat content and subcutaneous fat thickness significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in response to dietary FCSM supplementation at the age of 21 d. Serum concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased (p < 0.05) in FCSM fed broilers compared with CON fed broilers, while the levels of epinephrine and growth hormone in serum, liver and abdominal fat tissue were higher (p < 0.05) in FCSM than in CON fed broilers. The activity of hormone-sensitive esterase and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the liver and abdominal fat were higher (p < 0.05) in FCSM than CON group. Additionally, compared with the CON group (p < 0.05), the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and LPL genes were upregulated in the livers of FCSM group broilers. Gene expressions of hormone-sensitive lipase and LPL in the abdominal fat tissue were also upregulated (p < 0.05) with the broilers fed with FCSM diets. A total of 20 significantly different metabolites were obtained in the serum of different dietary FCSM supplemented fed broilers. The mainly altered pathways were clustered into organic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. These results not only provide a better understanding of broilers’ lipid metabolism with FCSM but also can be helpful in further improvement of the broilers’ healthy production and utilization of FCSM.
Highlights
It is well documented that the excessive intake of high-fat diets can lead to obesity [1], which is associated with health complications such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, or other adverse health conditions [2]
The percentage of abdominal fat (p = 0.03) and subcutaneous fat thickness (p = 0.04) were found decreased in fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) treatment compared with the CON (Figure 1a)
Histological analysis of adipocytes from abdominal fat showed significantly smaller adipocytes in FCSM (1221 ± 275 μm2, least squares means (LSM) ± standard error of means (SEM)) broilers compared with CON (1524 ± 293 μm2, LSM ± SEM)
Summary
It is well documented that the excessive intake of high-fat diets can lead to obesity [1], which is associated with health complications such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, or other adverse health conditions [2]. Over full-fat is an unpopular constituent of meat for consumers, being considered unhealthy. Excessive fat accumulation causes processing difficulties, and indicates that feed energy use is inefficient [6]. Since the deposition one unit of fat consumes, is three times more energy than the deposition of one unit of lean meat [7]. Excessive fat deposition induces fatty liver, which means both high mortality and incidence diseases in broilers [5,8]. In summary, excess deposition of fat in broilers is detrimental for both producers and consumers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
