Coated sodium butyrate ameliorates high-energy and low-protein diet induced hepatic dysfunction via modulating mitochondrial dynamics, autophagy and apoptosis in laying hens.

BACKGROUND: Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS), a fatty liver disease in laying hens, poses a grave threat to the layer industry, stemming from its ability to trigger an alarming plummet in egg production and usher in acute mortality among laying hens. Increasing evidence suggests that the onset and progression of fatty liver was closely related to mitochondria dysfunction. Sodium butyrate was demonstrated to modulate hepatic lipid metabolism, alleviate oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial dysfunction in vitro and mice models. Nevertheless, there is limited existing research on coated sodium butyrate (CSB) to prevent FLHS in laying hens, and whether and how CSB exerts the anti-FLHS effect still needs to be explored. In this experiment, the FLHS model was induced by administering a high-energy low-protein (HELP) diet in laying hens. The objective was to investigate the effects of CSB on alleviating FLHS with a focus on the role of CSB in modulating mitochondrial function. METHODS: A total of 288 healthy 28-week-old Huafeng laying hens were arbitrarily allocated into 4 groups with 6 replicates each, namely, the CON group (normal diet), HELP group (HELP diet), CH500 group (500 mg/kg CSB added to HELP diet) and CH750 group (750 mg/kg CSB added to HELP diet). The duration of the trial encompassed a period of 10 weeks. RESULTS: The result revealed that CSB ameliorated the HELP-induced FLHS by improving hepatic steatosis and pathological damage, reducing the gene levels of fatty acid synthesis, and promoting the mRNA levels of key enzymes of fatty acid catabolism. CSB reduced oxidative stress induced by the HELP diet, upregulated the activity of GSH-Px and SOD, and decreased the content of MDA and ROS. CSB also mitigated the HELP diet-induced inflammatory response by blocking TNF-α, IL-1ß, and F4/80. In addition, dietary CSB supplementation attenuated HELP-induced activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), mitochondrial damage, and decline of ATPase activity. HELP diet decreased the autophagosome formation, and downregulated LC3B but upregulated p62 protein expression, which CSB administration reversed. CSB reduced HELP-induced apoptosis, as indicated by decreases in the Bax/Bcl-2, Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and Cyt C expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary CSB could ameliorate HELP diet-induced hepatic dysfunction via modulating mitochondrial dynamics, autophagy, and apoptosis in laying hens. Consequently, CSB, as a feed additive, exhibited the capacity to prevent FLHS by modulating autophagy and lipid metabolism.

Effects of different selenium sources and levels on the physiological state, selenoprotein expression, and production and preservation of selenium-enriched eggs in laying hens.

Selenium (i.e., Se) is a trace element that is vital in poultry nutrition, and optimal forms and levels of Se are critical for poultry productivity and health. This study aimed to compare the effects of sodium selenite (SS), yeast selenium (SY), and methionine selenium (SM) at selenium levels of 0.15 mg/kg and 0.30 mg/kg on production performance, egg quality, egg selenium content, antioxidant capacity, immunity and selenoprotein expression in laying hens. The trial was conducted in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, and a total of 576 forty-three-wk-old Hyland Brown laying hens were randomly assigned into 6 treatment groups, with diets supplemented with 0.15 mg Se/kg and 0.3 mg Se/kg of SS, SY and SM for 8 wk, respectively. Results revealed that SM increased the laying rate compared to SS and SY (P < 0.05), whereas different selenium levels had no effect. Organic selenium improved egg quality, preservation performance, and selenium deposition compared to SS (P < 0.05), while SY and SM had different preferences for Se deposition in the yolk and albumen. Also, organic selenium enhanced the antioxidant capacity and immune functions of laying hens at 0.15 mg Se/kg, whereas no obvious improvement was observed at 0.30 mg Se/kg. Moreover, SY and SM increased the mRNA expression of most selenoproteins compared to SS (P < 0.05), with SM exhibiting a more pronounced effect. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPx2), thioredoxin reductases (TrxRs), selenoprotein K (SelK), selenoprotein S (SelS), and antioxidant and immune properties. In conclusion, the use of low-dose organic selenium is recommended as a more effective alternative to inorganic selenium, and a dosage of 0.15 mg Se/kg from SM is recommended based on the trail conditions.

Dietary Coated Sodium Butyrate Ameliorates Hepatic Lipid Accumulation and Inflammation via Enhancing Antioxidative Function in Post-Peaking Laying Hens.

During the aging process of laying hens, hepatic oxidative stress damage and lipid accumulation are prone to occur, leading to the deterioration of egg quality and a decline in production properties. This research was designed to explore the effects of different levels of coated sodium butyrate (CSB) addition on oxidation resistance, inflammatory reaction, lipid metabolism and hepatic oxidative damage-related gene expression in aged laying hens. A total of 720 healthy 52 weeks old Huafeng laying hens were arbitrarily divided into 5 groups of 6 replicates with 24 birds each and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg CSB for 8 weeks, respectively. The CSB quadratically upgraded GSH-Px activities and downgraded MDA content in the liver and serum. The LDL-C, NEFA and TG contents decreased quadratically in CSB groups and significantly reduced the fatty vacuoles as well as the formation of fat granules in the liver (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the CSB quadratically upregulated the gene expression of IL-10, Nrf2 and HO1, but downregulated the gene expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α and Keap1 in a quadratic manner (p < 0.05). Moreover, the CSB quadratically degraded the mRNA level of fatty acid synthesis but increased the gene level of key enzymes of fatty acid catabolism (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary CSB supplementation has a favorable effect in protecting against liver injury and alleviating lipid accumulation and inflammation by enhancing hepatic antioxidative function in aged laying hens.

[Degradation of methyl orange solution by microwave-assisted catalysis of H2O2 with chromium residue].

Heavy metal such as chromate compounds, together with unspent azo dyestuff, in effluent forms composite pollutants. The composite wastewater is persistent in color and nonbiodegradable. COD removal ratio and decolorization ratio of methyl orange solution were investigated by microwave -induced catalysis of H2O2 with chromium residue. Factors governing the degradation of methyl orange were experimentally studied including microwave power, microwave irradiation time, pH value, amount of chromium residue, and concentrations of H2O2 and methyl orange solution. Results indicated that some transition metal ions might be taken as catalysts for the purification of persistent organic pollutants in organic-heavy metal wastewater treatment, which can reduce the consumption of chemicals and lower the cost of wastewater purification. Chromium ions in residue and H2O2 could form Fenton-like reagent and produce hydroxyl to mineralize methyl orange. Microwave heating has both thermal and non-thermal effects, and can promote the mineralization rate of organic pollutants. Microwave can also enhance the utilization efficiency of H2O2 in the catalysis process and reduce the dosage of oxidant. The acidity is favorable for generation of hydroxyl for Fenton-like reagent. Employing chromate residue as catalyst in Fenton-like process, the decolorization ratio and COD removal ratio of aqueous MO at 1000 mg x L(-1) were 88% and 85%, respectively, under the following conditions: microwave frequency 2450 MHz, microwave power 700 W, microwave irradiation time 3 min, pH 3 and molar ratio of chromium to hydrogen peroxide 1:56.8.