Abstract
Simple SummaryThis study investigated the effects of the Laetiporus sulphureus fermented product (FL) as a feed supplement on antioxidant activities, intestinal Tight Junction (TJ) mRNA expression, and the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. FL supplementation could potentially enhance the feed conversion ratio in broilers by improving their antioxidative status, TJ mRNA expression, and intestinal morphology. Broilers supplemented with 5% FL exhibited the best overall results on improving antioxidant status, TJ mRNA expression, and intestinal morphology.The Laetiporus sp. is a fungal species that is traditionally used for medicinal purposes. This study investigated the effects of the Laetiporus sulphureus fermented product (FL) as a feed supplementation on the antioxidant activities, the intestinal Tight Junction (TJ) mRNA expression, and the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens. Four-hundred one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to five experimental diets: (1) a corn-soybean meal basal diet (control), (2) a basal diet replaced with 5% Wheat Bran (5% WB), (3) a basal diet replaced with 10% WB (10% WB), (4) a basal diet replaced with 5% FL (5% FL), and (5) a basal diet replaced with 10% FL (10% FL). The FL-supplemented groups exhibited a better feed conversion ratio in the overall experimental period compared to the WB and control groups. The serum antioxidant profiles of 35-day-old broilers showed that, compared to the control and 10% WB groups, the 5% FL supplementation group had a significantly increased superoxide dismutase activity, while it down-regulated the concentration of malondialdehyde in the serum (p < 0.05). The assessment of selected antioxidant gene expression showed that the 5% FL group significantly elevated heme oxygenase-1 and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 expression, compared to the control and WB groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, both of the FL supplemented groups had a significantly higher expression of glutathione peroxidase and catalase, compared to that of the WB and control groups in the jejunum (p < 0.05). The TJ mRNA expression in the jejunum showed that 5% FL significantly elevated the zonula occludens-1, claudin-1, and mucin-2 expression (p < 0.05), while 5% and 10% FL supplementation significantly improved OCLN expression in both the jejunum and ileum, compared to control group (p < 0.05). The intestinal morphology of 35-day-old broilers showed that a 5% FL supplementation significantly increased the villus height in the ileum and jejunum, compared to the WB and control groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the 5% and 10% FL supplementation groups had a significantly higher villi:crypt ratio in the ileum, compared to the WB and control groups (p < 0.05). To conclude, FL supplementation improved the antioxidative status, the TJ mRNA expression, and the intestinal morphology, and it was accompanied by a lowered feed conversion ratio in broilers. Finally, 5% supplementation had the overall best results in improving the antioxidant status, TJ mRNA expression, and intestinal morphology of broilers.
Highlights
Oxidative damage is a critical problem in the poultry industry
Four-hundred oneday-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into the five experimental diets: (1) corn-soybean meal, (2) a basal diet replaced with 5% Wheat Bran (5% Wheat Bran (WB)) (5% WB), (3) a basal diet replaced with 10% WB (10% WB), (4) a basal diet replaced with 5% FL (5% FL), and (5)
No significant difference was observed in the body weight, body weight gain, and feed intake of each group of 1–35 day-old broilers and 1–21 day-old broilers (p > 0.05)
Summary
World poultry populations are mainly located in tropical and subtropical regions, where heat stress is a main concern, as it negatively influences the antioxidant status, which is reflected by the increased serum lipid peroxidation and reduced plasma concentrations of antioxidants [2]. These stress factors affect the health status of poultry and the safety of poultry products, while they adversely influence the intestinal oxidative status and disrupt the normal function of enterocytes, causing an abnormality in nutrient absorption and diseases [3]. Protecting the intestinal tract from excessive oxidative damage and maintaining the integrity of the TJ could be major factors that positively influence the performance of birds in the intensive poultry industry [4,7]
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