Abstract
ABSTRACT This study has the objective of investigating the effects of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions (TCM) on serum lipid, abdominal and hepatic fat percentage, cholesterol content in eggs, and mRNA expression of genes apoA I and apoB100. One hundred and thirty five healthy (300-day-old) layers were randomly assigned to three treatments. The hens in control group were fed with the basal diet. The hens in the experimental groups (TCM 1 and TCM 2) were fed with the basal diet supplemented with 1% TCM 1 and 1% TCM 2 respectively over a period of 60 days. Laying performance and the serum parameters relevant to fat metabolism were measured. The results showed that no significant differences were found in average daily feed intake and egg weight among three treatments. Average daily laying rate in TCM treatments was increased, and the cholesterol content in eggs was decreased. The serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in experimental treatments were decreased (p<0.05), while the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was increased (p<0.05) compared to the control group. Additionally, abdominal fat percentage decreased in TCM 1 treatment (p<0.05), and hepatic fat percentage decreased in both TCM treatments (p<0.05). The expression of apolipoproteinA I (apoA I) and apolipoproteinB100 (apoB100) mRNA in the liver increased in both TCM treatments (p<0.05). These results suggest that the diet supplemented with TCM could increase the expression of apoA I and apoB100 mRNA in the liver, and decrease lipid content in the serum, and reduce egg cholesterol in layers.
Highlights
Lipid is one of the necessary nutrients for both human beings and animals
The results showed that both traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions (TCM) 1 and TCM 2 declined the levels of serum lipid and blood lipid significantly, and it might be due to the TCMs which contained the ingredients that can regulate lipid metabolism
The present study showed a significant decrease in hepatic fat percentage and a decrease trending in abdominal fat percentage after the dietary supplemented with TCM
Summary
Lipid is one of the necessary nutrients for both human beings and animals. It is an energy source, and the provider of essential fatty acids. Cholesterol content in eggs is considered as a significant factor to limit their consumption its nutritional value is very high (Patrícia et al, 2013; Spence et al, 2012). The evidences above suggested that the reduction of serum lipid level of layers and cholesterol content in eggs is critical for practical production cost and animal welfare. ApolipoproteinA I (apoA I) and apolipoproteinB100 (apoB100, the main form in poultry) were reported to be associated with lipid metabolism. ApoA I and apoB100 are the major apolipoprotein synthesized in the liver (Kristina et al, 1990).
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