In vitro gastrointestinal digestion study of two wheat cultivars and evaluation of xylanase supplementation

Background： The filamentous fungus Talaromyces versatifis is known to improve the metabolizable energy of wheat- based poultry diets thanks to its ability to produce a pool of CAZymes and particularly endo-β（1,4）-xylanases. In order to appreciate their in vivo mode of action, the supplementation effect of two of its xylanases, XynD and XynB from families GH10 and GHll respectively, have been evaluated on two different wheat cultivars Caphorn and Isengrain, which were chosen amongst 6 varieties for their difference in non starch polysaccharides content and arabinoxylan composition. Results： Polysaccharides digestion was followed during 6 h along the digestive tract using the TNO gastrointestinal model-1, to mimic monogastric metabolism. Polysaccharide degradation appeared to occur mainly at the jejunal level and was higher with Isengrain than with Caphorn. For both cultivars, XynD and XynB supplementation increased notably the amount of reducing end sugars into the jejuno-ileal dialysates, which has been confirmed by a valuable increase of the soluble glucose into the jejunal dialysates. Conclusions： The amounts of arabinose and xylose into the dialysates and ileal deliveries increased consequently mainly for Caphorn, suggesting that XynD and XynB supplementation in wheat-based diet could alleviate the anti-nutritional effects of arabinoxylans by limiting the physical entrapment of starch and could increase the available metabolizable energy.

Increased maternal consumption of methionine as its hydroxyl analog promoted neonatal intestinal growth without compromising maternal energy homeostasis

Background： To determine responses of neonatal intestine to maternal increased consumption of DL-methionine（DLM） or DL-2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid（HMTBA）, eighteen primiparous sows（Landrace × Yorkshire） were allocated based on body weight and backfat thickness to the control, DLM and HMTBA groups（n = 6）, with the nutritional treatments introduced from postpartum d0 to d14.Results： The DLM-fed sows showed negative energy balance manifested by lost bodyweight, lower plasma glucose, subdued tricarboxylic acid cycle, and increased plasma lipid metabolites levels. Both villus height and ratio of villus height to crypt depth averaged across the small intestine of piglets were higher in the DLM and HMTBA groups than in the control group. Piglet jejunal oxidized glutathione concentration and ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione were lower in the HMTBA group than in the DLM and control groups. However, piglet jejunal aminopeptidase A, carnitine transporter 2 and IGF-II precursor m RNA abundances were higher in the DLM group than in the HMTBA and control groups.Conclusion： Increasing maternal consumption of methionine as DLM and HMTBA promoted neonatal intestinal growth by increasing morphological development or up-regulating expression of genes responsible for nutrient metabolism. And increasing maternal consumption of HMTBA promoted neonatal intestinal antioxidant capacity without compromising maternal energy homeostasis during early lactation.

Dietary supplementation with 2-hydroxy-4-methyl(thio)butanoic acid and DL-methionine improves productive performance,egg quality and redox status of commercial laying ducks

This experiment aimed to study the effects of supplemental methionine sources,2-hydroxy-4 methyl(thio)butanoic acid(HMTBa)and DL-Methionine(DL-Met),on productive performance,egg quality,and redox status of laying ducks.A total of 792 healthy 25-wk-old Longyan laying ducks with similar body weights were randomly allotted to 11 treatment groups.Each treatment group had 6 replicates of 12 ducks.The trial lasted for 16 wk.Ducks were fed a basal deficient diet(Met:0.24%;Met+Cys:0.51%)or supplemented with DL-Met or HMTBa at 0.05%,0.12%,0.19%,0.26%,and 0.33%of diet,respectively.Compared with the basal diet,supplementation with either DL-Met or HMTBa increased the average egg weight,egg mass,and decreased feed to egg ratio during the whole trial period(P<0.05).Albumen weight and its ratio to total egg weight were increased,but yolk and shell ratio,albumen height,Haugh unit and shell breaking strength were decreased(P<0.05).Dietary DL-Met or HMTBa supplementation increased taurine,methionine,leucine,tryptophan and arginine content,and decreased serine and lysine content in plasma(P<0.05).The redox status of laying ducks was improved by enhancing the glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities,glutathione content and its ratio relative to glutathione(oxidized)content and decreasing malondialdehyde content and increasing mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase-1,glutathione peroxidase-1,hemeoxygenase-1 and nuclear factor-like 2 in liver and ileum with the supplementation of DL-Met or HMTBa(P<0.05).Liver health status measured by average area proportion lipid droplet was improved with supplementation of DL-Met or HMTBa(P<0.05).Villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the ileum and the ileal gene expression of tight junction protein and occludin were increased with DL-Met or HMTBa supplementation(P<0.05).Taken together,these results suggested that the efficacy of dietary supplementation of HMTBa was similar to DL-Met,and it ranged from 98%to 100%for productive performance and egg albumen ratio in laying ducks(25 to 41 wk).

Dietary methionine sources and levels modulate the intestinal health status of broiler chickens

Given the key role of methionine in biological processes,adequate methionine should be provided to meet the nutritional requirements.DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid(DL-HMTBA)has been considered as an important source of methionine.However,the effects of different sources and levels of methionine on the intestinal health status have not been clarified yet.An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different dietary sources and levels of methionine on the intestinal epithelial barrier,inflammatory cytokines expression,ileal morphology,microbiota composition,and cecal short chain fatty acids(SCFA)profiles.For this purpose,720 male Arbor Acre broiler chicks at 1 d old were randomly assigned to a 2×3 factorial arrangement with 2 methionine sources(DL-methionine and DLHMTBA)and 3 total sulfur amino acids(TSAA)levels(80%,100%,and 120%of Arbor Acre recommendation).The results showed that DL-HMTBA supplementation promoted intestinal physical barrier at both gene expression level of claudin-1 and serum diamine oxidase level(P<0.05),and the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 m RNA expression was down-regulated by dietary DL-HMTBA supplementation compared with the DL-methionine group(P<0.05).Meanwhile,an upregulated gene expression of claudin-1 and zonula occluden-1(ZO-1)were observed in the low-TSAA treatment on d 14(P<0.05),whereas this treatment increased the expression of IL-1βand IL-6(P<0.05).Villus height to crypt depth ratio was high(P<0.05)in the middle-level TSAA group.Furthermore,DL-HMTBA supplementation optimized the microbiota of the ileum especially the relative abundance of Lactobacillus,where the digestion and absorption were completed,and elevated the concentrations of SCFA(acetate,propionate,and butyrate)in the cecal content on d 21(P<0.01).In conclusion,dietary DL-HMTBA supplementation improved the intestinal barrier function,immune homeostasis and optimized the microbiota to promote intestinal health status in broiler chickens.