Chromium has been recognized for dec- ades as a nutritional factor that promotes the growth of broiler chickens, but the molecular mechanism is still not clearly understood. The present study was de- signed to investi...Chromium has been recognized for dec- ades as a nutritional factor that promotes the growth of broiler chickens, but the molecular mechanism is still not clearly understood. The present study was de- signed to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms of the effects of supplemental chromium picolinate on the growth of broiler chickens. A total of 144 21-day-old Arbor Acres male broiler chicks were randomly divided into a control and an experimental group. The control group was fed a basal diet, and the experimental group was fed the same basal diet sup- plemented with 200 μg/kg chromium picolinate. The experiment lasted for three weeks from day 28 to 42 of the birds.. Supplementation with 200 μg/kg chro- mium picolinate significantly increased body weight （ P 〈 0.05）. Serum insulin levels in chickens of the experimental group were increased significantly （P 〈0. 05 ）, whereas serum glucose concentrations were decreased （P 〈 0.05）. No significant changes were observed in serum lipid profiles in chickens fed the di- et supplemented with chromium picolinate. Gene ex- pression levels of the insulin receptor （IR） and insu- lin receptor substrate 1 （IRS-1）, two pivotal compo- nents of the insulin signaling pathway, were also in- vestigated using Real-time quantitative PCR. IR ex- pression was significantly （P 〈 0.05） increased fol- lowing chromium supplementation. Therefore, supple- mental chromium picolinate had a beneficial effect on the growth of broilers. In agreement with observations in mammals, chromium might exert its effect via po- tentiating insulin action, and ultimately by stimulating anabolism without altering body composition in chick- ens.展开更多
基金supported by the National High Tech-nology Development Plan of China (2008AA101009)
文摘Chromium has been recognized for dec- ades as a nutritional factor that promotes the growth of broiler chickens, but the molecular mechanism is still not clearly understood. The present study was de- signed to investigate the physiological and molecular mechanisms of the effects of supplemental chromium picolinate on the growth of broiler chickens. A total of 144 21-day-old Arbor Acres male broiler chicks were randomly divided into a control and an experimental group. The control group was fed a basal diet, and the experimental group was fed the same basal diet sup- plemented with 200 μg/kg chromium picolinate. The experiment lasted for three weeks from day 28 to 42 of the birds.. Supplementation with 200 μg/kg chro- mium picolinate significantly increased body weight （ P 〈 0.05）. Serum insulin levels in chickens of the experimental group were increased significantly （P 〈0. 05 ）, whereas serum glucose concentrations were decreased （P 〈 0.05）. No significant changes were observed in serum lipid profiles in chickens fed the di- et supplemented with chromium picolinate. Gene ex- pression levels of the insulin receptor （IR） and insu- lin receptor substrate 1 （IRS-1）, two pivotal compo- nents of the insulin signaling pathway, were also in- vestigated using Real-time quantitative PCR. IR ex- pression was significantly （P 〈 0.05） increased fol- lowing chromium supplementation. Therefore, supple- mental chromium picolinate had a beneficial effect on the growth of broilers. In agreement with observations in mammals, chromium might exert its effect via po- tentiating insulin action, and ultimately by stimulating anabolism without altering body composition in chick- ens.
