Liver Of Broiler Chickens Research Articles

Carry-over of some Fusarium mycotoxins in tissues and eggs of chickens fed experimentally mycotoxin-contaminated diets

Fusarium mycotoxins are fungal contaminants found in different crops intended for human and animal consumption. Due to the co-occurrence of several of mycotoxins, the present study aimed at examining the transfer of these toxins into tissues of broiler chickens and eggs of laying hens fed contaminated diets. After an adaptation period, the chickens were fed contaminated diets containing mg/kg levels of deoxynivalenol (DON), enniatins (ENN A, A1, B, B1) and beauvericin (BEA) and high μg/kg levels of HT-2 toxin (HT-2), T-2 toxin (T-2) and zearalenone (ZEN) during a repletion period of two weeks, followed by a depletion period of two weeks. DON, ZEN, T-2 and HT-2 were not carried out into the skin and the liver of broiler chickens. ENN B (20.5 ± 6.6 μg/kg) and BEA (162 ± 55 μg/kg) were found in the liver, while in the skin their respective concentrations were 50 ± 17 μg/kg and 120 ± 16 μg/kg during the first week of the repletion period. Carry-over rates into liver and skin were higher for BEA (1.6% and 1.2%, respectively) than for ENNs (0.1 and 0.4%, respectively). During the depletion period, ENNs and BEA were eliminated from the skin and the liver. ENN B, ENN B1 and BEA were carried over into eggs at 0.1%, 0.05% and 0.44% upon 2–3 days of feeding the contaminated diet, respectively. These transfers were fully eliminated 9–10 days after feeding the control diet again. These results indicate the transfer of ENN B, ENN B1 and BEA from feed to chicken offal, meat products and eggs at a very low degree, thus marginally contribute to the total dietary intake of these fusariotoxins for consumers. Nevertheless, taking precautionary measures in the field, harvest, transport and storage of the raw materials is required to keep the mycotoxin concentration in feed below the safe levels.

Transcriptome Analysis and Expression of Selected Cationic Amino Acid Transporters in the Liver of Broiler Chicken Fed Diets with Varying Concentrations of Lysine.

Amino acids are known to play a key role in gene expression regulation. Amino acid signaling is mediated via two pathways: the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and the amino acid responsive (AAR) pathways. Cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) are crucial in these pathways due to their sensing, signaling and transport functions. The availability of certain amino acids plays a key role in the intake of other amino acids, hence affecting growth in young birds. However, the specific mechanism for regulating lysine transport for growth is not clear. In this study, we analyze the transcriptome profiles and mRNA expression of selected cationic amino acid transporters in the livers of broilers fed low and high lysine diets. Birds consumed high-lysine (1.42% lysine) or low-lysine (0.85% lysine) diets while the control group consumed 1.14% lysine diet. These concentrations of lysine represent 125% (high lysine), 75% (low lysine) and 100% (control), respectively, of the National Research Council’s (NRC) recommendation for broiler chickens. After comparing the two groups, 210 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (fold change >1 and false discovery rate (FDR) <0.05). When comparing the high lysine and the low lysine treatments, there were 67 upregulated genes and 143 downregulated genes among these DEGs. Analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and the Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis show that cellular growth, lipid metabolism and lysine metabolism pathways were among the significantly enriched pathways. This study contributes to a better understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the correlation between lysine intake, body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) in broiler chickens. Moreover, the DEGs obtained in this study may be used as potential candidate genes for further investigation of broiler growth customized responses to individualized nutrients such as amino acids.

Effects of Inclusion of Different Doses of Persicaria odorata Leaf Meal (POLM) in Broiler Chicken Feed on Biochemical and Haematological Blood Indicators and Liver Histomorphological Changes.

Simple SummaryThe frequent use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry feed leads to antimicrobial resistance, resulting in a ban on their subtherapeutic use in food-producing animals. In this context, there is a dire need to find safe and potential alternatives. Recently, phytobiotics, especially herbs, have gained attention and have been studied extensively for their possible use as alternative poultry feed additives. Persicaria odorata is a herb (phytobiotic) that is reported to possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and hepatoprotective properties. This study is the first of its kind to assess the effects of different doses of supplementation of Persicaria odorata leaf meal (POLM) on haematological blood indicators, serum biochemistry, organ parameters, and histomorphology of the liver in broiler chickens. The results revealed that the dietary supplementation of POLM enhanced the growth performance, positively improved the haematological indices and serum biochemistry profile with no deleterious effects on internal organs, and ameliorated the histomorphology of the liver, even at dietary supplementation of 8 g/kg. Thus, POLM would be safe at an inclusion rate of 8 g/kg as an alternative phytogenic feed additive in broiler chickens.This research was conducted to estimate the effects of Persicaria odorata leaf meal (POLM) on haematological indices, serum biochemical attributes, and internal organs parameters, including histomorphological features of the liver, in broiler chickens. A total of 120 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb-500) were randomly allocated into four experimental groups. The dietary treatments were basal diet (BD), which served as the control (C), along with BD + 2 g/kg POLM (Po2), BD + 4 g/kg POLM (Po4), BD + 8 g/kg POLM (Po8), which were the supplemented groups. The body weight gain (BWG) showed a linear increase and feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a linear decrease with increasing POLM dosage at day 42 (p ˂ 0.05) and for the overall growth performance period (p ˂ 0.01). On day 21 and day 42, the values of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), haemoglobin (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV) showed linear increases (p ˂0.05) as the dosage of POLM increased in the diet. On day 21, dietary supplementation of POLM linearly decreased (p ˂ 0.05) the serum activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), and serum levels of urea and creatinine. On the other hand, serum levels of total protein (TP), albumin, and globulin showed a linear increase (p ˂ 0.05) as the POLM dosage increased. On day 42, the serum activity of AST and ALT and serum levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, and creatinine showed linear decreases (p ˂ 0.05) with increased levels of POLM in the diet. However, POLM supplementation linearly increased (p ˂ 0.05) the serum levels of TP and globulin. Dietary inclusion of POLM did not influence the organ parameters and showed no adverse effects on the liver histomorphology. In conclusion, supplementation of POLM increased the growth performance, improving haematological indices and serum biochemistry profiles of broiler chickens without any deleterious effects on the liver histomorphology. The results of the present study provide evidence that POLM can be safely used at a dose rate of 8 g/kg of feed as an alternative to conventional antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs).

Effects of supplementing feed with fermentation concentrate of Hericium caput-medusae (Bull.:Fr.) Pers. on cholesterol deposition in broiler chickens

The fermentation concentrate of Hericium caput-medusae (Bull.:Fr.) Pers. (HFC) is a liquid fermentation product of fungi. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with HFC on cholesterol deposition in the liver and meat, as well as the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the cecum of broiler chickens. A total of 480 male broiler chickens (1-d-old, initial body weight of 38.8 ± 0.9 g) were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments with 6 cages/treatment and 20 broiler chickens/cage. The broiler chickens in the 4 treatments received diets supplemented with 0, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8% of HFC during the 42-d feeding experiment. The results showed that the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations decreased linearly (P < 0.05) and quadratically (P < 0.05) as the dietary HFC supplementation increased. The cholesterol contents in the liver, thigh, and breast muscles of broiler chickens decreased linearly (P < 0.05) and quadratically (P < 0.05) with increasing HPC supplementation. The serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration and excreta bile acid content increased linearly (P < 0.05) and quadratically (P < 0.05) with the increase of dietary HFC supplementation. The gene expression of 3‑hydroxy‑3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) in the liver of broiler chickens decreased linearly (P < 0.05) and quadratically (P < 0.05) as the dietary HFC supplementation increased. The contents of propionic acid and butyric acid increased linearly (P < 0.05) and quadratically (P < 0.05) as the dietary supplementation of HFC increased. The cholesterol-lowering effects of this treatment might be attributed to the decrease in the gene expression of HMGR in the liver, the increase in SCFA production in the cecum, and the increase in bile acids in the excreta by HFC. Therefore, supplementation of HFC in the diet of broiler chickens may be a means of producing the low-cholesterol chicken demanded by consumers.

The Effect of Nano-Encapsulation Phaleria macrocarpa Fruits Extract in Drinking Water on the Digestive Tract and Carcass Characteristic of Broiler Chickens

The present study was to evaluate the effects of nano-encapsulated Phaleria macrocarpa fruit extract (NEPM) in drinking water on the digestive organs and carcass characteristic of broiler chickens. A total number of two hundred male broiler chicks were randomly divided into five treatments with four replicates, each replicate contained ten chickens. Broiler chickens have received a basal diet supplemented with or without experimental treatments. Five experimental treatments were: control diet (T0; negative control), diet with tetracycline (T1; positive control), diet with 2.5% of Phaleria macrocarpa fruits extract (T2), diet with 2.5% NEPM (T3), and diet with 5.0% NEPM (T4). The diets were based on yellow corn and soybean meal and contained 20.44% crude protein, 2,917.47 kcal/kg metabolizable energy, 0.84% Calcium, and 0.51% available Phosphorus. On the 35th day, one bird from each replicate pen was slaughtered. Carcass characteristics and weights of digestive organs were measured. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA in a completely randomized design. The orthogonal contrast test was used to separate the mean when the P-value was less than 5%. Results showed that the use of nano-encapsulated Phaleria macrocarpa fruits extracts up to 5.0% in the diet did not give any significant effect on the carcass, digestive organs, heart and liver weights of broiler chickens. It can be concluded that the supplementation of Phaleria macrocarpa fruits extracts whether nano-encapsulated or not, did not affect carcass weight, weights of digestive organs and weights of the heart and liver of broiler chickens.

The effects of vitamins E and C on individual lipides in the liver and skeletal muscles of chicken broilers

The purpose of the work was to find out the changes in the lipid composition of the liver and skeletal muscles of broiler chickens at different stages of growth under the influence of supplements of vitamins E and C in their diet. The studies were conducted on four groups of broiler chickens. The control group was fed a standard compound feed. The first experimental group in addition to the specified compound feed received tocopherol acetate in the amount of 0.1 g/kg, the second — ascorbic acid, 0.25 g/kg. The third experimental group of chickens received tocopherol acetate and ascorbic acid at mentioned doses. The lipids from these tissues were extracted by the Folch method, and the ratio of individual lipid classes was determined by thin layer chromatography on silica gel. The results of the studies indicate the stimulating effect of vitamins E and C on the accumulation of total lipids in the skeletal muscles and liver of broiler chickens. In addition, we can conclude that feeding the broiler chickens of supplements containing vitamins E and C during the period of intensive growth promotes the increase of lipid synthesis in their liver and deposition of synthesized lipids in skeletal muscle. However, these processes are accompanied by a redistribution of the ratio of individual lipid classes in the investigated organs and tissues of chickens

Age-related features of the manifestation of non-contagious pathology and metabolic disorders of liver in broiler chickens

The article presents the data on the study of age-related features of non-contagious pathology in broiler chickens, as well as the level of metabolic processes in liver of healthy poultry and poultry with diseases. The results of the studies indicate that in the conditions of an industrial enterprise specializing in meat poultry rearing, poultry mortality in different age periods ranged from 3 to 5 % of the total population. In the structure of the causes of mortality of broiler chickens from the 8th to the 15th day, an increase in mortality from hepatopathies was registered, and by the 25th day of life hepatosis was recorded in the bulk of the dead poultry. Biochemical monitoring of blood serum in poultry with signs of liver pathology revealed an increase in the level of ALAT, β-globulins, and the “inflammation syndrome” of the hepatic parenchyma was confirmed by a positive thymol test. Long-term consumption of feed contaminated with mycotoxins by broilers led to the deterioration in the health of the poultry, an imbalance in liver and the development of general metabolic disorders of the poultry organism.

Modified-dietary fiber from cassava pulp reduces abdominal fat and meat cholesterol contents without affecting growth performance of broiler chickens

This study aimed to investigate the effects of modified-dietary fiber from cassava pulp (M-DFCP), mostly classified as insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), as a feed supplement on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, weight of digestive organs, abdominal fat storage, and cholesterol in meat and blood of broiler chickens. A total of 336 one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to 4 groups in 7 replicate pens with 12 chicks each, based on a completely randomized design. Four dietary treatments composed of control and 3 M-DFCP inclusion levels: 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%. The results showed that M-DFCP showed no negative effects on growth performance in broiler chickens. The inclusion of M-DFCP in diets at 1.0 to 1.5% had positive effects on increased gizzard weight, reduced gizzard pH, and reduced abdominal fat. The M-DFCP at 1.0% can also increase nutrient digestibility (dry matter, organic matter, and ether extract). In addition, the supplementation of M-DFCP at 1.0 to 1.5% in diets represented lower cholesterol in serum, breast and thigh meats, and liver of broiler chickens. In conclusion, these results indicate that M-DFCP can be used as an IDF source in broiler diets. The inclusion of 1.0% M-DFCP in broiler diet has positive effects on enhancing gizzard function, improving nutrient digestibility, and reducing abdominal fat and cholesterol in chicken meat, blood, and liver.

Activated FXR promotes xenobiotic metabolism of T-2 toxin and attenuates oxidative stress in broiler chicken liver

The transmission of T-2 toxin and its metabolites into the edible tissues of poultry has potential effects on human health. The bile acid and xenobiotic system composes an intricate physiological network of chemoprotective and transporter-related functions, which ensures the detoxification and removal of harmful xenobiotic and endobiotic compounds from the body. This study revealed that cholic acid (CA), as one of the bile acids, promoted the metabolism of T-2 toxin in vivo by inducing the xenobiotic metabolism enzymes expression, thereby increasing the stress resistance and attenuating the oxidative stress. This study also indicated that dietary supplementation of 1% CA alleviated the mortality caused by T-2 toxin. Liver histology results demonstrated that CA supplementation significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, sinusoidal expansion and congestion. Biochemistry results showed that the elevations of plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and the increase in concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in liver induced by the T-2 toxin were decreased by dietary supplementation of 1% CA. Additionally, CA supplementation led to the increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but the decrease in catalase (CAT) activity in broiler chicken livers. Based on these findings, we propose that activation of FXR promotes T-2 toxin xenobiotic metabolism, and FXR plays a hepatoprotection role in liver injury induced by T-2 toxin.

Comet assay study of the genotoxic effect of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in chicken hepatocytes.

The aim of this study was to verify that the comet assay can be used to investigate the DNA damaging effects of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in the liver of broiler chickens. The comet assay is a favorable genotoxic analysis because it is cheap, simple, and can be used in many organisms and different tissues. Male broiler chickens were fed with T-2/HT-2 toxins-contaminated diet for 14 days. The comet assay was successfully adapted to chicken liver cells, and the DNA damage was determined by a decrease in the comet parameter (DNA % in the tail) in the experimental groups. The method of evaluation was found to be critical because DNA damage could not be detected exactly using the CometScore software, due to inaccurate separation of head and comet. However, this problem can be solved by visual evaluation. In the case of the visual evaluation, each toxin-treated group differed significantly from the control group, indicating that the assay can be useful for the assessment of primary DNA damage caused by T-2/HT-2 toxins.

Fumonisin B1, B2 and B3 in Muscle and Liver of Broiler Chickens and Turkey Poults Fed with Diets Containing Fusariotoxins at the EU Maximum Tolerable Level.

Although provisional maximum tolerable daily intake and recommended guidelines have been established for fumonisins (FB) in food, few data are available concerning levels of FB in edible animal tissues. Such data are of particular interest in avian species that can tolerate relatively high levels of fumonisins in their feed. Also, even if multiple contamination of animal feed by toxins produced by Fusarium is very frequent, little is known about the consequences of multiple contamination for FB levels in tissues. The aim of this study was to analyze the concentrations of FB in the muscle and liver of chickens and turkeys fed with FB alone and with FB combined with deoxynivalenol (DON), and with zearalenone (ZEN). Experimental diets were formulated by incorporating ground cultured toxigenic Fusarium strains in corn-soybean based feeds. Control diets were free of mycotoxins, FB diets contained 20 mg FB1+FB2/kg, and FBDONZEN diets contained 20, 5, and 0.5 mg/kg of FB1+FB2, DON, and ZEN, respectively. Animals were reared in individual cages with free access to water and feed. The feed was distributed to male Ross chickens from the 1st to the 35th day of age and to male Grade Maker turkeys from the 55th to the 70th day of age. On the last day of the study, the birds were starved for eight hours, killed, and autopsied for tissues sampling. No sign of toxicity was observed. A UHPLC-MS/MS method with isotopic dilution and immunoaffinity clean-up of samples has been developed for analysis of FB in muscle (n = 8 per diet) and liver (n = 8 per diet). Only traces of FB that were below the LOQ of 0.25 µg/kg were found in most of the samples of animals fed with the control diets. Mean concentrations of FB1, FB2, and FB3 in muscle were 17.5, 3.39, and 1.26 µg/kg, respectively, in chickens, and 5.77, 1.52, and 0.54 µg/kg in turkeys, respectively. In the liver, the respective FB1, FB2, and FB3 concentrations were 44.7, 2.61, and 0.79 µg/kg in chickens, and 41.47, 4.23, and 1.41 µg/kg, in turkeys. Cumulated level of FB1+FB2+FB3 in the highly contaminated samples were above 60 and 100 µg/kg in muscle and liver, respectively. The concentrations of FB in the tissues of animals fed the FBDONZEN diet did not greatly differ from the concentrations measured in animals fed the diet containing only FB.

Increased fat synthesis and limited apolipoprotein B cause lipid accumulation in the liver of broiler chickens exposed to chronic heat stress.

Chronic heat stress can enhance fat synthesis in broilers, and excessive triglyceride (TG) synthesized by the liver needs to be transported to extrahepatic tissues by very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) otherwise will accumulate in the liver, which may even result in hepatic steatosis. To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which chronic heat stress enhances fat synthesis and results in lipid accumulation in the liver of chickens, 144 broilers (Arbor Acres, 28-day-old) were randomly allocated to the normal control (NC, 22°C), heat stress (HS, consistent 32°C), or pair-fed (PF, 22°C) groups for a 14-D trial. The 7 D of heat exposure significantly increased the respiratory rate, relative weight of abdominal fat, the levels of glucose, TG, corticosterone, insulin, and VLDL in plasma, as well as the levels of TG, total cholesterol, acyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in the liver, and mRNA expression levels of carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), ACC, FAS, and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) in comparison with the other 2 groups. After 14 D of heat exposure, the relative weights of abdominal fat and liver and levels of TG and FAS in the liver were significantly higher in the HS group than in the other 2 groups, and there were no significant differences in the respiratory rate, plasma corticosterone concentration, apolipoprotein B (ApoB) level in the liver, and mRNA expression levels of key genes of fat synthesis among the 3 groups. In conclusion, chronic heat exposure activated LXRα pathway and enhanced fat synthesis in the liver after 7 D of heat exposure. After 14 D of heat exposure, heat-stressed broilers exhibited an adaptation to the high temperature in parameters of stress and fat synthesis gene expression levels. Moreover, chronic heat stress resulted in lipid accumulation in the liver of broilers, which is probably because the limited ApoB was not enough to transport the excessive TG synthesized by the liver in chronic heat-stressed broilers.

Effect of level of inclusion of clove (&lt;i&gt;Syzygium aromaticum&lt;/i&gt;) powder in the diet on growth and histological changes in the intestines and livers of broiler chickens

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of different levels of clove ( Syzygium aromaticum ) powder in the diet on growth performance and histological changes of the livers and intestines of broiler chickens at 21 and 35 days old. Three hundred and thirty-six one-day-old Ross (308) broilers were allocated to eight treatments, namely: NC: negative control and unvaccinated; PC: positive control and vaccinated; and treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 supplemented with different levels of clove powder (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 g clove powder/kg of diet, respectively) and all vaccinated. At 21 and 35 days old, eight birds/treatment were weighed, and samples from the livers and intestines were collected to evaluate morphological and histological changes. The results showed that higher levels of clove powder (T3 to T6) resulted in a gradual decrease in the live body weight of the birds at 21 and 35 days old. Relative liver weight increased in T5 and T6 at 35 days, but not at 21 days. A shorter small intestine was recorded in birds that received 50 and 60 g (T5 and T6) clove powder, while the proportional length of small intestinal parts did not show differences among treatments at 21 and 35 days old. The supplementation in the T3 toT6 groups resulted in a gradual decrease in intestinal weight at 21 days, but was not evident at 35 days. Villus height, villus surface area and villus crypt depth showed a gradual decrease from T1 to T6 at 35 days old. Also, gradual loss was recorded of the intestinal epithelium structure by necrotic enteritis on the wall of villi with an increased level of clove powder (< T2). These results indicated that 10 g clove powder per kg diet could be used to improve the growth rate without affecting the health of the liver and intestines of broilers. Keywords: Gallus domesticus , morphology, histomorphometric, digestive system, vaccine

Processed cocoa pod husk dietary inclusion: effects on the performance, carcass, haematogram, biochemical indices, antioxidant enzyme and histology of the liver and kidney in broiler chicken

BackgroundIn a 42-day feeding trial, the effects of processed cocoa pod husk (PCHM) inclusion in a broiler chicken diet were assessed.MethodsThis experiment was conducted between December 2017 and January 2018. Cocoa pod husk was collected and processed by ash treatment and rumen liquor fermentation to form a processed cocoa pod husk (PCHM). Three experimental diets were formulated at both the starter and finisher phases, in which PCHM was included at 0, 4 and 8% and designated as diets 1, 2 and 3, respectively. One hundred and eighty 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly distributed to three dietary treatments (10 birds/replicate; 60 birds/treatment) in a completely randomized design. The growth performance, carcass, relative internal organ weights and haemato-biochemical indices were determined. Histological examination of the liver and heart samples was also determined.ResultsThe PCHM inclusion did not affect (P > 0.05) the performance characteristics of the broiler chicks, except for the feed intake that significantly (P < 0.05) increased in birds fed 8% of PCHM-inclusive diet at the starter phase. The carcass traits, relative internal organ weights, haematological indices and serum biochemical indices of the broiler chickens were similar (P > 0.05) across the dietary treatments. The serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase concentration were higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed PCHM-inclusive diets compared to those fed the control diet. Similar histological myocardiac cell appearances were observed among the birds across the various dietary treatments. Sections show the myocardium composed of the cardiac muscle with peripherally placed nucleus separated by a defined interstitium that is free of inflammatory cells and collections. In the birds fed diet 2 and 3, histological variations observed were marked vascular congestion and perivascular inflammatory cells infiltrations in the hepatic tissue and marked infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells around the vessels and activation of hepatic macrophage: Kupffer cells.ConclusionDietary PCHM inclusion up to 8% supports the performance, stability of haemato-biochemical indices and improved antioxidant status of the broiler chickens under heat stress condition. Histological changes were observed in the broiler chicken liver.

Effects of fermented potato protein supplementation in drinking water on growth performance, carcass characteristics, small intestinal morphology and expression of IGF-1 and GHR genes in the liver of broiler chickens

We investigated the effects of fermented potato protein (FPP), supplied through drinking water, on growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 288 male broiler chickens were divided into two groups: a control group and an experimental group supplemented with 0.01% FPP in drinking water. The FPP group had a significantly higher BWG and ADG (P less than 0.01) and significantly improved FCR (Pless than 0.05). The percentage of breast was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in fermented potato protein (FPP) group. The FPP group had an increased villus height (P less than 0.05) in duodenum and jejunum. Expression of IGF-1 gene in the liver was significantly higher in the FPP group than in the control group (P less than 0.05), whereas GHR gene expression did not differ between the groups at 37 days. This study suggests that FPP supplementation in drinking water improves growth performance of broiler chickens by stimulating IGF-1 gene expression in the liver and improving the intestinal morphology.

Discovery of potential transcriptional biomarkers in broiler chicken for detection of amantadine abuse based on RNA sequencing technology

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to identify candidate transcriptional biomarkers so as to provide a new method for monitoring amantadine residues during the feeding of broiler chicken. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatic analyses were conducted to examine the transcriptomic changes and screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in broiler chicken breast muscle and liver tissues treated with amantadine. The results indicated that a total of 170 DEGs were screened from broiler chicken breast muscle tissues after amantadine was fed. Among the genes, 120 were up-regulated and 50 were down-regulated. The gene ontology (GO) terms for these genes mainly existed in the areas of hydrolase activity, immune reaction and chemokine activity. The significantly enriched pathways in the Kyoto Encyclopedia for Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were in phagosomes, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), lysosomes and extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors. From the broiler chicken liver tissues, 172 DEGs were screened, among which 116 were up-regulated and 56 were down-regulated. The GO terms of these DEGs were related to functions such as catalytic activities, metabolic activities, oxidation-reduction activities, immune reactions and cofactor binding. The significantly enriched KEGG pathways existed in metabolism, CAM, ECM receptor reaction and drug metabolism-cytochrome P450. According to the fold-change (FC), significance levels, functional annotations and possible biological processes of DEGs, 11 and 9 candidate DEGs related to amantadine treatment were further screened from broiler chicken breast muscle and liver tissues, respectively. In addition, the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) verification showed exactly concordant results with the RNA-seq data. Principal components analysis (PCA) on the qRT-PCR data resulted in the separation of treated samples from the control samples in both tissues. The results provided a basis for identification of transcriptional biomarkers for detecting amantadine residues in broiler chicken breast muscle and liver tissues.

Curcumin supplementation regulates lipid metabolism in broiler chickens

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary curcumin affects lipid metabolism in the liver of broiler chickens. Four treatment groups were formed from 1200 1-day-old broiler chickens, including a base diet (control, supplemented with 0mg/kg curcumin), 500mg/kg, 1,000mg/kg, and 2,000mg/kg dietary curcumin, for 49 d. At the end of experiment, each group of 50 chickens were sampled and analyzed. Compared with the control group, the results have showed that body weight, average daily weight gain, absolute and relative liver weight significantly decreased in the 1,000 and 2,000mg/kg curcumin groups (P < 0.05). The absolute and relative abdominal fat weight were significantly decreased in the 2,000mg/kg curcumin group (P < 0.05). The concentrations of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05) and plasma and hepatic triglyceride concentrations (P < 0.01) were markedly decreased in the 2,000mg/kg curcumin group. The hepatic nonesterified fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05) and the hepatic glycogen (P < 0.05) and liver hepatic lipase activities (P < 0.01) were significantly increased in the 1,000 and 2,000mg/kg curcumin groups. The plasma-free triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations were significantly increased in the 2,000mg/kg curcumin group (P < 0.05). The gene expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) were significantly decreased in all curcumin groups (P < 0.05), but the gene expression levels of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) and ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) were significantly decreased only in the 2,000mg/kg curcumin group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor α (PPARα) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-I (CPT-I) were significantly increased in the 1,000 and 2,000mg/kg curcumin groups (P < 0.05). These results indicated that curcumin plays an important role in reduction abdominal fat deposition by decreasing the hepatic and plasma lipid profile and affecting the expression levels of genes related to lipogenesis and lipolysis including ACC, FAS, SREBP-1c, ACLY, PPARα, and CPT-I.

Forsythiaside attenuates Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-induced liver acute inflammatory response in chicken

This study investigated the effects of forsythiaside on the acute inflammatory response induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in liver of broiler chickens. Fifteen-day-old chickens were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 20 for each group, orally treated with 0, 30, or 60 mg/kg BW of forsythiaside) for 7 days. At 21 days of age, the chickens were intravenously injected with either LPS (200 μg/kg BW) or sterile saline (200 μg/kg BW, control group). All the chickens were humanely euthanized by cervical dislocation 2 h after the LPS injection. The results showed that the injection of LPS induced some indexes, including total proteins, nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-17 (IL-17) production ( P &lt; 0.05) and increased the mRNA expression of LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (LITAF), IL-1β, IL-17, IL-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) ( P &lt; 0.05). Forsythiaside supplementation alleviated the LPS-induced inflammatory response by inhibiting the production of total proteins, NO, LITAF, IL-1β, IL-17, and IL-6 and down-regulating the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and iNOS. In conclusion, forsythiaside is a potential treatment for LPS-induced liver acute inflammation in chicken.

Morphological changes in the broiler chickens liver at use of “Karsilin” in conditions of infectious-toxic hepatitis modelling

In poultry farms, at the conditions of rapid intensification of production, a lot of stress factors, such as infectious, technological, fodder, medication and others, act on the bird organism, and the main burden is borne by the liver. Therefore, timely warning and control of liver disease is very important. One of the marker infections with a potent pathogenic toxic effect on the liver and the bird organism as a whole is pseudomonosis. Objective: study of morphological changes in the liver of broiler chickens at the use of “Karsilin” in the conditions of modeling of infectious-toxic hepatitis for the determination of hepatoprotective action. We conducted a histological examination of the liver of intact chickens (intact control); chickens infected with the strain of P. aeruginosa microorganisms (control pathology); chickens, for which the “Karsilin” or Thiotriazolin was used with preventive-therapeutic purposes at infecting P. aeruginosa. Microscopic picture of liver samples infected with P. aeruginosa chicks corresponds to moderately expressed non-specific reactive hepatitis with morphological signs: disorganization of the hepatic beams pattern, hydrocytic and fatty hepatocyte dystrophy, small foci necroses, inflammatory cellular infiltration; proliferative, stagnant processes, perivascular edema and hyperemia in the system of the hepatic triad. The use of “Karsilin” at experimental pseudomonosis reduced the intensity of pathological processes: the severity of hepatocyte dystrophy was less than 71%, and necrotic changes in hepatocytes and violations of the beam pattern were less than 75% compared with the control pathology. Feed supplement “Karsilin” demonstrates hepatoprotective effect, which is expressed by preventing or significantly reducing the intensity of the manifestation of dystrophic, necrotic, infiltrative and proliferative processes in hepatocytes and in the hepatic triad in conditions of infectious-toxic hepatitis caused by the pathological action of P. aeruginosa toxins in the body of chicken broilers. Feed supplement “Karsilin” on the activity of protective and regenerative action is not inferior, and according to many indicators, the comparison preparation Thiotriazolin prevails.

Effect of supplementing moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal and pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel meal on performance, carcass attributes, immune and antioxidant responses in broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to study the benefits of dietary supplementation of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal (MLM) and pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel meal (PPM) on the performance, carcass attributes, immune and antioxidant responses in commercial broiler chickens during 1–42 days of age. In total, 450 Cobb-400 broiler male chicks raised in wire-floor stainless-steel battery brooder pens in an open-side poultry house were divided into five experimental groups with 18 replicates of five chicks each and fed a standard control diet (CD) and the test diets supplemented with MLM (500 and 1000 mg/kg) or PPM (250 and 500 mg/kg), each at two different concentrations. Bodyweight gain, feed conversion efficiency and carcass attributes were not affected (P &amp;gt; 0.05). The cell-mediated immune response to phytohaemagglutinin phosphate was not influenced (P &amp;gt; 0.05), but the antibody titre against Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine was significantly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) improved by supplementation of MLM or PPM in broiler diet at 42 days of age. However, at 21 days of age, the ND titre was similar in broilers fed CD and 500 mg/kg PPM fed group. Activities of glutathione reductase and super oxide dismutase in liver were not influenced (P &amp;gt; 0.05), while lipid peroxidation (LP) reduced significantly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) with the herbal additives. The LP in the PPM group was significantly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) lower than that in groups fed MLM. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) was significantly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) improved in the PPM group. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (super oxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, GSHPx) in spleen were not influenced (P &amp;gt; 0.05). The degree of LP in the 500 mg/kg PPM group was significantly (P &amp;lt; 0.05) lower than that in groups fed the CD. It is concluded that supplementation of MLM (500 and 1000 mg/kg) or PPM (250 and 500 mg/kg) in diets improved humoral immune response (against ND vaccine) at 42 days of age and reduced LP in liver in commercial broilers, without showing any negative effects on performance and carcass attributes. Supplementation of PPM (250 and 500 mg/kg) significantly improved the activity of GSHPx in the liver of broiler chickens.