Effects of pantothenic acid on growth performance,slaughter performance, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant function of Wulong geese aged one to four weeks

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of pantothenic acid on the growth performance,slaughter performance, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant function of one-to four-week-old Wulong geese and determine the appropriate supplemental level of pantothenic acid. A total of 360 one-day-old Wulong geese were randomly divided into 6 groups with 6 replicates per group and 10 geese(5 males and 5 females) per replicate. The geese in group Ⅰ(control group) were fed a basal diet, and the geese in groups Ⅱ to Ⅵ(experimental groups) were given the basal diet supplemented with 8, 15, 30, 60, and120 mg/kg pantothenic acid, respectively. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks. Based on the results of unrelated comparative analysis, the body weight was the highest when the dietary pantothenic acid level was 27.57 mg/kg. When the dietary pantothenic acid level was 26.17 mg/kg, the average daily gain peaked. When the dietary pantothenic acid level was 15.50 mg/kg, the feed:gain ratio was the lowest.The percentage of abdominal fat in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ(P < 0.05). The content of total cholesterol in serum in groups III to Ⅴ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ(P < 0.05). The triglyceride content in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ(P < 0.01). The high-density lipoprotein—cholesterol content in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ(P < 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity of serum and liver in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ(P < 0.05). The malondialdehyde content in the liver in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ(P < 0.05), Glutathione peroxidase activity in the serum in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ(P < 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver in groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ(P < 0.01). The addition of pantothenic acid in the diet of one-to four-week-old Wulong geese significantly affected the growth performance,slaughter performance, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant function of the geese. In terms of economic benefits, the optimal supplemental level of pantothenic acid in one-to four-week-old geese was15.50 mg/kg.

Integrated liver proteomics and metabolomics identify metabolic pathways affected by pantothenic acid deficiency in Pekin ducks

Pantothenic acid deficiency(PAD)in animals causes growth depression,fasting hypoglycemia and impaired lipid and glucose metabolism.However,a systematic multi-omics analysis of effects of PAD on hepatic function has apparently not been reported.We investigated liver proteome and metabolome changes induced by PAD to explain its effects on growth and liver metabolic disorders.Pekin ducks(1-dold,n=128)were allocated into 2 groups,with 8 replicates and 8 birds per replicate.For 16 d,all ducks had ad libitum access to either a PAD or a pantothenic acid adequate(control,CON)diet,formulated by supplementing a basal diet with 0 or 8 mg pantothenic acid/kg of diet,respectively.Liver enlargement,elevated liver glycogen concentrations and decreased liver concentrations of triglyceride and unsaturated fatty acids were present in the PAD group compared to the CON group.Based on integrated liver proteomics and metabolomics,PAD mainly affected glycogen synthesis and degradation,glycolysis and gluconeogenesis,tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle,peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR)signaling pathway,fatty acid beta oxidation,and oxidative phosphorylation.Selected proteins were confirmed by Western blotting.Downregulation of proteins and metabolites involved in glycogen synthesis and degradation,glycolysis and gluconeogenesis implied that these processes were impaired in PAD ducks,which could have contributed to fasting hypoglycemia,liver glycogen storage,insufficient ATP production,and growth retardation.In contrast,PAD also upregulated proteins and metabolites involved in fatty acid beta oxidation,the TCA cycle,and oxidative phosphorylation processes in the liver;presumably compensatory responses to produce ATP.We inferred that PAD decreased liver triglyceride and unsaturated fatty acids by activating fatty acid beta oxidation and impairing unsaturated fatty acid synthesis.These findings contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms of PAD-induced changes in hepatic metabolism.