Dietary Resistant Starch From Potato Regulates Bone Mass by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Concomitant Short-Chain Fatty Acids Production in Meat Ducks.

Gut microbiota interfered with using prebiotics may improve bone mass and alleviate the onset of bone problems. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effect of resistant starch from raw potato starch (RPS) on bone health in meat ducks. Response to the dietary graded level of RPS supplementation, both tibia strength and ash were taken out linear and quadratic increase and positively correlated with increased propionate and butyrate levels in cecal content. Moreover, further outcomes of gut microbiota and micro-CT analysis showed the beneficial effect of RPS on bone mass might be associated with higher Firmicutes proportion and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecum. Consistent with improving bone mass, SCFAs promoted phosphorus absorption, decreased the digestive tract pH, and enhanced intestinal integrity, which decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory genes in both gut and bone marrow, and consequently depressed osteoclastic bone resorption mediated by inflammatory cytokines. These findings highlight the importance of the "gut-bone" axis and provide new insight into the effect of prebiotics on bone health.

Dietary herbaceous mixture supplementation reduced hepatic lipid deposition and improved hepatic health status in post-peak laying hens.

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome is characterized by hepatic damage and hemorrhage impairing animal welfare in birds, which was well-known to be moderately relieved through dietary choline chloride supplementation in laying hens. Chinese herb has been proven to exert a positive role on hepatic health in human and rodents. Here, we investigated the effect of herbaceous mixture (HM), which consists of Andrographis paniculate, Silybum marianum, Azadirachta Indica, and Ocimum basilicum (2:3.5:1:2), on the hepatic lipid metabolism and health status in laying hens. A total of 240 Hy-line Brown hens (389-day-old) were randomly fed the basal diet with 0 mg/kg choline chloride (negative control, NC), 1,000 mg/kg choline chloride (control, Ctrl), or 300 mg/kg HM for 28 d. Birds fed HM diet exhibited lower serum triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level than those received NC and Ctrl diets (P < 0.05). When compared to control and NC group, the diets with HM decreased the contents of total cholesterol and TG in liver, as well as upregulated the mRNA abundance of hepatic hormone-sensitive lipase and lipoprotein lipase. Meanwhile, the hepatic area and diameter of steatosis vacuoles were also decreased by dietary HM administration (P < 0.05), which accompanied by decreased serum alanine aminotransferase activity (P < 0.05). Birds fed HM diets enhanced the hepatic antioxidative capacity than those received NC and Ctrl diet. Dietary HM depressed the mRNA level of inflammatory cytokine as compared to NC but not Ctrl group. Collectively, the diet with 300 mg/kg HM has a favorable effect in decreasing the lipid deposition and protecting liver injury by alleviating hepatic oxidant stress and inflammation in post-peak laying hens.

Acidification of drinking water improved tibia mass of broilers through the alterations of intestinal barrier and microbiota.

OBJECTIVE: Diet acidification supplementation is known to influence intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and on phosphorus (P) utilization of broilers. Alterations in intestinal barrier and microbiota have been associated with systemic inflammation and thus regulating bone turnover. Hence the effect of acidifier addition to drinking water on tibia mass and the linkages between intestinal integrity and bone were studied. METHODS: One-d-old male broilers were randomly assigned to normal water (control) or continuous supply of acidified water (2% the blend of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid, lactic, and phosphoric acid) group with 5 replicates of 10 chicks per replicate for 42 d. RESULTS: Acidification of drinking water improved the ash percentage and calcium content of tibia at 42 d. Broilers receiving acidified water had increased serum P concentration compared to control birds. The acidified group showed improved intestinal barrier, evidenced by increased wall thickness, villus height, the villus height to crypt depth ratio, and upregulated mucin-2 expression in ileum. Broilers receiving drinking water containing mixed organic acids had a higher proportion of Firmicutes and the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, as well as a lower population of Proteobacteria. Meanwhile, the addition of acidifier to drinking water resulted in declined ileal and serum proinflammatory factors level and increased immunoglobulin concentrations in serum. Concerning bone remodeling, acidifier addition was linked to a decrease in serum C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase reflecting bone resorption, whereas it did not apparently change serum alkaline phosphatase activity that is a bone formation marker. CONCLUSION: Acidified drinking water increased tibia mineral deposition of broilers, which was probably linked with higher P utilization and decreased bone resorption through improved intestinal integrity and gut microbiota and through decreased systemic inflammation.

Dynamic changes of blood glucose, serum biochemical parameters and gene expression in response to exogenous insulin in Arbor Acres broilers and Silky fowls.

Silky chicken is a breed of chickens with black skin and slow growth rate used in Chinese traditional medicine, whereas Arbor Acres broiler is a well-known commercial breed in the poultry industry, it is featured by a large size, rapid-growth rate, high feed-conversion rate and strong adaptability. The difference in their rate of growth may be primarily related to different mechanism for glucose metabolism. Here we compared the insulin sensitivity of the two breeds; we investigated the temporal changes (at 0 min, 120 min and 240 min) of serum insulin and other biochemical parameters and determined the spatio-temporal changes of gene mRNA abundance in response to exogenous insulin (80 µg/kg body weight). The results indicated that: (1) Silky chickens showed stronger blood glucose recovery than broilers in the insulin resistance test. (2) The serum urea level in Silky chickens was twice of broilers; exogenous insulin significantly up-regulated serum uric acid level in Silky fowls in a time-dependent manner and increased serum cholesterol content at 120 min. (3) Two breeds showed distinctly different temporal changed in serum insulin in response to exogenous insulin stimulation. The fasting serum insulin concentration of broilers was three-fold of Silky chickens at the basal state; it decreased significantly after insulin injection and the levels at 120 min and 240 min of broilers were only 23% (P < 0.01) and 14% (P < 0.01) of the basal state, respectively. Whereas the serum insulin content in Silky chickens showed stronger recovery, and the 240 min level was close to the 0 min level. (4) GLUT2, GLUT12, neuropeptide Y and insulin receptor (IR) were predominantly expressed in the liver, pectoralis major, olfactory bulb and pancreas, respectively, where these genes presented stronger insulin sensitivity. In addition, the IR mRNA level was strongly positively with the GLUT12 level. In conclusion, our findings suggested that Silky chickens have a stronger ability to regulate glucose homeostasis than broilers, owing to their higher IR levels in the basal state, stronger serum insulin homeostasis and candidate genes functioning primarily in their predominantly expressed tissue in response to exogenous insulin.

Nutrient concentrations and fluxes in the upper catchment of the Miyun Reservoir, China, and potential nutrient reduction strategies.

The Miyun Reservoir is Beijing's main drinking water source. Increased nutrient levels in the reservoir have resulted in an increased risk of harmful algal blooms. One hundred ten water samples were collected at a range of spatial scales in the upper catchment of the Miyun Reservoir and were analyzed for total nitrogen (TN), nitrate (NO3 (-)-N), ammonium (NH4 (+)-N), total phosphorus (TP), and the potassium permanganate index (CODMn). Empirical equations were developed from relationships between nutrient concentrations and the main controls on nutrient, and were used to identify parts of the catchment that should be targeted with nutrient load reduction measures. Cropland was the main source of sediment for the streams, and much of the phosphorus was associated with sediment. The annual mean TP concentrations were closely correlated with both the annual mean suspended sediment concentrations and the ratio of the cropland area to the total basin area. There was a linear relationship between the annual mean TN concentration and the population density in the basins. Soil conservation may play an important role in reducing TP concentrations in the upper reaches of the Chao and Bai Rivers. It may be useful to (1) construct natural riparian buffers and vegetated buffers along croplands close to the watercourses, (2) implement management strategies to reduce nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications, and (3) construct additional wetlands to reduce nutrient loads in the study area.

[Comparative study on characteristics of urban rainfall runoff from two urban lawn catchments in Macau and Xiamen].

A comparative study on characteristics of stormwater runoff from two urban lawn catchments in Macau (ELH) and Xiamen (PGH) with separated sewer system were conducted. The result obtained shows that COD, TP and NO3- -N are the major pollutants with mean EMC of 165.77-60.48 mg/L, 0.96-0.44 mg/L and 7.16-1.18 mg/L, respectively, and the mean values of pollutants loads of COD, TP and NO3- -N from study lawn catchments are 6.53-0.63 kg/hm2, 0.0375-0.0047 kg/hm2 and 0.0122-0.0128 kg/hm2, respectively. Peak values of major pollutant concentrations usually precede the flow peak. First flush effect of rainfall runoff from two study catchments is no obvious, which can be reflected by the low mean value of FF30 of TSS, COD, TP and NO3- -N, with 36.26%, 26.13%, 28.13% and 39.03%, respectively. Based on multivariate statistical analysis, first flush effect from urban lawn rainfall runoff is greatly influenced by total rainfall amount (Tr) and total runoff volume (V).

[Modelling pollutant loads and management alternatives in Jiulong River watershed with AnnAGNPS].

The modelling package Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source Model (AnnAGNPS) was used to predict pollutant loads, and simulate catchment processes and management practices in Jiulong River watershed, a medium-sized mountainous watershed in southeast of China. Four typical sub-watersheds were primarily chosen to calibrate AnnAGNPS model by data collected from storm events during the period of April to September, 2003. The model was further validated in the two biggest branches of Jiulong River watershed, i.e. West river and North river by the data regarding climate, and land using condition in 2002 - 2003. The simulation results show that annual total nitrogen load was 24.76kg/(hm2 x a) and 10.28kg/(hm2 x a) in the West river and North river, respectively, and annual total phosphorus load was 0.67 kg/(hm2 x a) and 0.40 kg/(hm2 x a) in the West river and North river, respectively. With the support of AnnAGNPS model, several management alternatives were separately simulated in the typical sub-watersheds, West river and North river. In the specific cell with cell-ID of 92 in Tianbao and Xiandu sub-watershed, after reforesting in sloping field, runoff surface, sediment yield, total nitrogen load and total phosphorus load cut down with 21.6%, 25.9%, 96% and 79.2%, respectively. In West river, with the cultivation plant changing from banana into rice, the total nitrogen, dissolved nitrogen, total phosphorus and dissolved phosphorus cut down with 23.83%, 25.44%, 9.08% and 19.84%, respectively. In North river, when removing all the hoggerys, nitrogen and dissolved nitrogen cut down with 63.54% and 76.92% , respectively.