Effects of Vitamin A and K3 on Immune Function and Intestinal Antioxidant Capacity of Aged Laying Hens

This study was conducted to investigate effects of vitamin A (VA) and vitamin K3 (VK3) on immune function and intestinal antioxidant capacity of aged laying hens. In a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, the diets of 1080 Roman Pink laying hens (87 weeks old) was formulated with deficient, adequate and excess VA and VK3, including 0, 7000 and 14000 IU/kg VA and 0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg VK3 for 8 weeks. Interactive effects between VA and VK3 were observed that VA and VK3 decreased the splenetic mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), but increased the plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) content and jejunal mRNA expression of nuclear factor-like 2 (Nrf2). Hens fed adequate or excess VA had higher spleen index, mRNA expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in spleen, sIgA content, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase and total dismutase (T-SOD) activity, and mRNA expression of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) in jejunum and lower mRNA expression of IL-1ß in jejunum and iNOS, TNF-α in spleen. Furthermore, adequate or excess VK3 significantly increased plasma IgG content, the CAT, T-SOD and total antioxidant capacity activities, up-regulated the mRNA expression of pIgR, Nrf2, SOD1 and CAT in jejunum and down-regulated the mRNA expression of iNOS and TNF-α in spleen.(AU)

Effects of dietary supplementation with tributyrin and coated sodium butyrate on intestinal morphology, disaccharidase activity and intramuscular fat of lipopolysaccharide-challenged broilers

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of tributyrin (TB) and coated sodium butyrate (CSB) on intestinal morphology, disaccharidase activity and intramuscular fat of broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 160 1-day-old healthy Cobb broilers were randomly allocated into four groups: (1) control; (2) LPS, in which broilers were fed a basal diet and intraperitoneally injected with 500 g/kg LPS on days 38, 40 and 42; (3) TB, in which LPS-challenged broilers were fed basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg TB; and (4) CSB, in which LPS-challenged broilers were fed basal diet supplemented with 877 mg/kg CSB. Addition of TB and CSB inhibited (p<0.05) the decrease in villus height in the duodenum and ileum of LPS-challenged broilers, respectively. Both TB and CSB increased (p<0.05) activity of maltase in the small intestine, and TB increased (p<0.05) activity of isomaltase in the ileum. Additionally, dietary addition of TB and CSB decreased (p<0.05) the content of intramuscular fat. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of TB was more effective than CSB in improving intestinal morphology and disaccharidase activity of LPS-challenged broilers, and they both reduced intramuscular fat in the breast and legs.(AU)

Effects of dietary supplementation with tributyrin and coated sodium butyrate on intestinal morphology, disaccharidase activity and intramuscular fat of lipopolysaccharide-challenged broilers

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of tributyrin (TB) and coated sodium butyrate (CSB) on intestinal morphology, disaccharidase activity and intramuscular fat of broilers challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 160 1-day-old healthy Cobb broilers were randomly allocated into four groups: (1) control; (2) LPS, in which broilers were fed a basal diet and intraperitoneally injected with 500 g/kg LPS on days 38, 40 and 42; (3) TB, in which LPS-challenged broilers were fed basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg TB; and (4) CSB, in which LPS-challenged broilers were fed basal diet supplemented with 877 mg/kg CSB. Addition of TB and CSB inhibited (p<0.05) the decrease in villus height in the duodenum and ileum of LPS-challenged broilers, respectively. Both TB and CSB increased (p<0.05) activity of maltase in the small intestine, and TB increased (p<0.05) activity of isomaltase in the ileum. Additionally, dietary addition of TB and CSB decreased (p<0.05) the content of intramuscular fat. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of TB was more effective than CSB in improving intestinal morphology and disaccharidase activity of LPS-challenged broilers, and they both reduced intramuscular fat in the breast and legs.