Effects of low-dose oleuropein diet supplementation on the oxidative status of skeletal muscles and plasma hormonal concentration of growing broiler chickens.

1. Oleuropein (Ole) is a major phenolic compound in Olea europaea, with anti-oxidative, anti-obesity, and anti-inflammatory properties. To explore the effect of Ole on the physiology and metabolism of poultry, this study, evaluated the effects of feeding low-dose Ole on the growth performance, metabolic hormonal status, muscle oxidative status in growing broiler chickens.2. Thirty-two 8-day-old chickens were assigned to four different treatments, and fed either 0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, or 2.5 ppm Ole-supplemented diets for 2 weeks.3. There were no differences in the body weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency during the feeding periods between the groups tested. Birds fed Ole 0.5- and 2.5 ppm-supplemented diets exhibited a significant decrease in muscle carbonyl content compared to the control group. In the group fed Ole 0.5 ppm, the mRNA expression levels of mitochondrial ROS-reducing factors: avian uncoupling protein and manganese superoxide dismutase, as well as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α, sirtuin-1 and -3 (each of which co-ordinately induce the transcription of the previous two factors) were upregulated compared to the control group, and the changes were independent of plasma noradrenaline and thyroid hormone levels. The group fed Ole-2.5 ppm did not show such transcriptional changes, but exhibited a higher corticosterone concentration.4. This study demonstrates that ingesting a low dose of Ole can reduce muscle oxidative damage, and that the suppression machinery may differ depending on the amount of Ole ingested by growing broiler chickens.

Effects of trehalose supplementation on the growth performance and intestinal innate immunity of juvenile chicks.

Trehalose is composed of two molecules of D-glucose joined by an α,α-1,1 glucosidic linkage and has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study investigated the effect of feeding a trehalose-supplemented diet on the growth performance, as well as the oxidative status and the intestinal innate immunity of juvenile chicks. A total of 16 d-old male broiler chicks were used in this study: two groups of 8 birds were fed on a 0% (control) or 0.5% trehalose-supplemented diet for 18 d. The mean body weight of the trehalose group was significantly greater than that of the control group, but feed efficiency was not altered by feeding the trehalose-supplemented diet. No differences in the levels of lipid peroxidation in skeletal muscle, liver and plasma were observed between the control and trehalose-supplemented groups. The mRNA levels of interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-like ligand 1A, interleukin-10, NADPH oxidase 4 and inducible NO synthase were significantly reduced by the trehalose supplementation. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation with trehalose after hatching may have beneficial effects on the growth performance of juvenile chicks, probably by improving their intestinal innate immunity.

Electrolysed reduced water decreases reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative damage to skeletal muscle and improves performance in broiler chickens exposed to medium-term chronic heat stress.

1. The present study was designed to achieve a reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative damage to skeletal muscle and to improve the performance of broiler chickens exposed to chronic heat stress. 2. Chickens were given a control diet with normal drinking water, or diets supplemented with cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) or grape seed extract (GSE), or a control diet with electrolysed reduced water (ERW) for 19 d after hatch. Thereafter, chickens were exposed to a temperature of either 34°C continuously for a period of 5 d, or maintained at 24°C, on the same diets. 3. The control broilers exposed to 34°C showed decreased weight gain and feed consumption and slightly increased ROS production and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in skeletal muscle. The chickens exposed to 34°C and supplemented with ERW showed significantly improved growth performance and lower ROS production and MDA contents in tissues than control broilers exposed to 34°C. Following heat exposure, CNSL chickens performed better with respect to weight gain and feed consumption, but still showed elevated ROS production and skeletal muscle oxidative damage. GSE chickens did not exhibit improved performance or reduced skeletal muscle oxidative damage. 4. In conclusion, this study suggests that ERW could partially inhibit ROS-induced oxidative damage to skeletal muscle and improve growth performance in broiler chickens under medium-term chronic heat treatment.