Dietary Enteromorpha polysaccharide-Zn supplementation regulates amino acid and fatty acid metabolism by improving the antioxidant activity in chicken

Background:Enteromorpha prolifera(E.prolifera)polysaccharide has become a promising feed additive with a variety of physiological activities,such as anti-oxidant,anti-cancer,anti-diabetic,immunomodulatory,hypolipidemic,and cation chelating ability.However,whether Enteromorpha polysaccharide-trace element complex supplementation regulates amino acid and fatty acid metabolism in chicken is largely unknown.This study was conducted to investigate the effects of E.prolifera polysaccharide(EP)-Zn supplementation on growth performance,amino acid,and fatty acid metabolism in chicken.Methods:A total of 184 one-day-old Ross-308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into two treatment groups with 8 replicates,12 chickens per replicate,and fed either the basal diet(control group)or basal diet plus E.prolifera polysaccharide-Zinc(400 mg EP-Zn/kg diet).Results:Dietary EP-Zn supplementation significantly increased(P<0.05)the body weight,average daily gain,muscle antioxidant activity,serum HDL level,and reduced serum TG and LDL concentration.In addition,dietary EPZn supplementation could modulate ileal amino acid digestibility and upregulate the mRNA expression of amino acid transporter genes in the jejunum,ileum,breast muscle,and liver tissues(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,breast meat from chickens fed EP-Zn had higher(P<0.05)Pro and Asp content,and lower(P<0.05)Val,Phe,Gly,and Cys free amino acid content.Furthermore,EP-Zn supplementation upregulated(P<0.05)the mRNA expressions of mTOR and anti-oxidant related genes,while down-regulated protein degradation related genes in the breast muscle.Breast meat from EP-Zn supplemented group had significantly lower(P<0.05)proportions ofΣn-3 PUFA,and a higher percentage ofΣn-6 PUFA and the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA.Besides,EP-Zn supplementation regulated lipid metabolism by inhibiting the gene expression of key enzymes involved in the fatty acid synthesis and activating genes that participated in fatty acid oxidation in the liver tissue.Conclusions:It is concluded that EP-Zn complex supplementation regulates apparent ileal amino acid digestibility,enhances amino acid metabolism,and decreases oxidative stress-associated protein breakdown,thereby improving the growth performance.Furthermore,it promotes fatty acid oxidation and restrains fat synthesis through modulating lipid metabolism-related gene expression.

Dietary Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract improves laying performance by altering serum metabolic profiles and gut bacteria in aged laying hens

The leaves of Eucommia ulmoides are rich in bioactive constituents that have potential gastrointestinal benefits for animals.In aged laying hens,intestinal health issues contribute to a significant decline in egg-laying capacity during intermediate and later stages.It remains unclear whether E.ulmoides leaf extract(ELE)can improve intestinal health and enhance egg production in elderly laying hens,and the underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated.Therefore,we conducted a study with 480 laying hens(65 weeks old)randomly allocated into four groups:a control group fed with the basal diet,and three treatment groups supplemented with 500,1,000,and 2,000 mg/kg of ELE,respectively.The primary active constituents of ELE include flavonoids,polysaccharides,terpenoids,and phenolic acids.Dietary supplementation with ELE at 1,000 mg/kg(ELE1000)significantly improved laying performance and egg quality compared to the other groups.ELE1000 stimulated the maturation of intestinal epithelial cells,increased villus height,and reduced crypt depth.It also influenced the levels of proteins associated with tight junctions(claudin-1 and claudin-2)and intestinal inflammatory factors(IL-6,IL-1β,and IL-2)in different intestinal sections.Integrative analysis of serum metabolomics and gut microbiota revealed that ELE1000 improved nutrient metabolism by modulating amino acid and ubiquinone biosynthesis and influenced the abundance of intestinal microbiota by enriching pivotal genera such as Bacteroides and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group.We identified 15 metabolites significantly correlated with both gut microbiota and laying performance,e.g.,DL-methionine sulfoxide,THJ2201 N-valerate metabolite,tetracarbonic acid,etc.In conclusion,ELE1000 improved laying performance in elderly laying hens by affecting intestinal morphology,barrier function,microbiota,and serum metabolite profiles.These findings suggest that ELE can be a beneficial feed additive for extending the peak producing period in aged laying hens.

L-Arginine/nitric oxide regulates skeletal muscle development via muscle fibre-specific nitric oxide/mTOR pathway in chickens

L-Arginine (L-Arg), the precursor of nitric oxide (NO), plays an important role in muscle function. Fasttwitchglycolytic fibres are more susceptible to age-related atrophy than slow-twitch oxidative fibres.The effect of L-Arg/NO on protein metabolism of fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibres was evaluated inchickens. In Exp. 1, 48 chicks at 1 day old were divided into 4 groups of 12 birds and subjected to 4treatments: basal diet without supplementation or supplemented with 1% L-Arg, and water supplementedwith or without L-nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 18.5 mM). In Exp. 2, 48 chicks weredivided into 4 groups of 12 birds fed with the basal diet and subjected to the following treatments: tapwater (control), tap water supplemented with L-NAME (18.5 mM), or molsidomine (MS, 0.1 mM), or18.5 mM L-NAME t 0.1 mM MS (NAMS). The regulatory effect of L-Arg/NO was further investigatedin vitro with myoblasts obtained from chicken embryo pectoralis major (PM) and biceps femoris (BF).In vivo, dietary L-Arg supplementation increased breast (t14.94%, P < 0.05) and thigh muscle mass(t23.40%, P < 0.05);whereas, MS treatment had no detectable influence. However, L-NAME treatmentblocked the beneficial influence of L-Arg on muscle development. L-Arg decreased (P < 0.05) proteinsynthesis rate, phosphorylated mTOR and ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (p70S6K) levels in breastmuscle, which was recovered by L-NAME treatment. In vitro, L-Arg or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)reduced protein synthesis rate, suppressed phosphorylated mTOR/p70S6K and decreased atrogin-1 andmuscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1) in myoblasts from PM muscle (P < 0.05). L-NAME abolished the inhibitoryeffect of L-Arg on protein synthesis and the mTOR/p70S6K pathway. However, myoblasts from BF muscleshowed the weak influence. Moreover, blocking the mTOR/p70S6K pathway with rapamycin suppressedprotein synthesis of the 2 types of myoblasts;whereas, the protein expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1levels were restricted only in myoblasts from PM muscle. In conclusion, L-Arg/NO/mTOR/p70S6Kpathway enhances protein accumulation and muscle development in fast-twitch glycolytic muscle inchickens. L-Arg/NO regulates protein turnover in a muscle fibre specific way, which highlights the potentialclinical application in fast-twitch glycolytic muscle fibres.