Fermented bamboo powder activates gut odorant receptors, and promotes intestinal health and growth performance of dwarf yellow-feathered broiler chickens.

The present study investigated the effects of fermented bamboo powder (FPB) on gut odorant receptors (OR), intestinal health, and growth performance of dwarf yellow-feathered broiler chickens. Six hundred (600) healthy 1-day-old chicks were randomly assigned into 2 groups, with 10 replicates consisting of 30 chicks each. The control group was fed a basal diet. In contrast, the experimental group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 g/kg FBP for 4 different phases, namely phase I (1-22 d), phase II (23-45 d), phase III (46-60 d), and phase IV (61-77 d), respectively. The first 2 phases were considered pretreatment (0-45 d), and the remaining were experimental (46-77 d) periods. The tissue samples were collected from phase IV. The chickens in the FBP supplementation group exhibited a significant increment in body weight gain, evisceration yield, breast, thigh, and liver weight, while also experiencing a decrease in the FCR (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the villus height, crypt depth, and villus area exhibited significant increases in the FBP group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the secretion levels of gut hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1, peptide YY, cholecystokinin, and 5-hydroxytryptamine were significantly elevated in the serum, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum tissues in the FBP group (P < 0.05). The results of qRT-PCR indicated that ORs had responsive expression in the gizzard, proventriculus, and small intestine of chickens when fed with the FBP diet (P < 0.05). Notably, the expression of the COR1, COR2, COR4, COR6, COR8, COR9, OR52R1, OR51M1, OR1F2P, OR5AP2, and OR14J1L112 genes was stronger in the small intestines compared to the gizzard and proventriculus. In conclusion, these results suggest that the FPB plays a crucial role in growth performance, activation of ORs, and gut health and development.

Ochratoxin A induces nephrotoxicity in vitro and in vivo via pyroptosis.

Ochratoxin A (OTA), a prevalent nephrotoxic mycotoxin contaminant in food and feedstuff, has been reported to induce renal injury. To disclose the nephrotoxicity of continuous administration of OTA and to investigate potential mechanisms related to pyroptosis, male C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg B.W. OTA every other day for 14 days. At 2.0 mg/kg B.W. OTA administration significantly increased histological injury and renal fibrosis molecules (α-SMA, Vimentin, TGF-ß) and activated the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and induced pyroptosis compared with control. In the in vitro tests, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells were exposed to 0-4.0 µg/ml OTA for 24 h in serum-free medium. Data showed that OTA dose-dependently affected cell viability and significantly up-regulated renal fibrosis genes (α-SMA, Vimentin, TGF-ß). 2.0 µg/ml OTA significantly induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis, increasing the expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and pyroptosis-related genes (GSDMD, IL-1ß, IL-18) in MDCK cells. These outcomes were significantly abrogated after inhibiting NLRP3 activation with inhibitor MCC950 and silencing NLRP3 with small interfering RNA (siRNA). Furthermore, knockdown of caspase-1 also ameliorated OTA-induced renal fibrosis via the inhibition of pyroptosis. Collectively, the chosen doses of OTA-triggered nephrotoxicity through NLRP3 inflammasome activation and caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Selenium-Enriched Probiotics Supplementation on Heat-Stressed Wistar Rat Through Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of selenium-enriched probiotics on the liver of heat-stressed Wistar rats. Ten-week-old male rats were assigned to four groups: control (Con); high temperature (HT); high temperature plus probiotics (HT + P: 1011 CFU/mL Lactobacillus acidophilus and 109 CFU/mL Saccharomyces cerevisiae); or high temperature plus selenium-enriched probiotics (HT + SeP: 0.3 mg/kg Se, 1011 CFU/mL L. acidophilus and 109 CFU/mL S. cerevisiae). The HT, HT + P, and HT + SeP groups were maintained at higher ambient temperature (40-42 °C), while the control group was kept at room temperature (25 °C). After 42 days of thermal exposure, blood and liver tissues were collected and analyzed for morphological and molecular markers of liver physiology. The body weight of rats in the HT group decreased but liver weight and live index were increased. Histological examination showed dilation of liver sinusoids and congestion of interstitial veins in HT group. Moreover, the histomorphology of the liver in HT + P and HT + SeP groups was restored, and the serum AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, and hepatic MDA level decreased significantly, but the serum total protein level and the liver SOD, T-AOC, and GSH-PX activities were increased significantly relative to the HT group. In addition, the mRNA level of Gpx1, SOD1, Nrf2, and Bcl-2 was significantly increased, while the expression level of Bax, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, NF-κB, α-SMA, TGFß1, Collagen I, HSP70, and HSP90 was significantly decreased in liver tissues after SeP supplementation. We concluded that SeP can protect Wistar rats from oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and liver fibrosis induced by heat stress.

Selenium/Zinc-Enriched probiotics improve serum enzyme activity, antioxidant ability, inflammatory factors and related gene expression of Wistar rats inflated under heat stress.

AIMS: The present study was carried out to investigate the influences of Selenium/Zinc-Enriched probiotics (SeZnP) on growth performance, serum enzyme activity, antioxidant capability, inflammatory factors and gene expression associated with Wistar rats inflated under high ambient thermal-stress. MAIN METHODS: Sixty male rates with six-weeks of age were randomly allocated into five groups (12 per group) and fed basal diet (Control), basal diet supplemented with probiotics (P), Zinc-Enriched probiotics (ZnP, 100 mg/L), Selenium-Enriched Probiotics (SeP, 0.3 mg/L) and Selenium/Zinc-Enriched probiotics (SeZnP, 0.3 mg + 100 mg/L). The experiment lasted 30 days. Blood and Tissues samples were taken to investigate serum enzyme activity, antioxidants capability and inflammatory factors by using of commercial kits and antioxidant, heat shock and inflammatory related molecules expressions were determined by qRT-PCR. KEY FINDINGS: Data analysis revealed that thermal stress significantly increased the level of Aspartate-aminotransferase, Alanine-aminotransferase, Lactate-dehydrogenase, Creatine-kinase, blood urea nitrogen, Creatinine and Alkaline phosphatase compared to P, ZnP, SeP or SeZnP groups (P < 0.01). However, supplementation of ZnP, SeP, and SeZnP significantly enhanced glutathione content, glutathione-peroxidase & superoxide-dismutase activity, and decreased malondialdehyde content (P < 0.05). Moreover, the concentration of IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly increased while IL-10 was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of GPx1 and SOD1 genes were significantly increased, but COX-2, iNOS, HSP70 and 90 mRNA levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Finally, the highest influence of the mentioned parameters was observed in SeZnP supplemented group. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study suggests that SeZnP supplementation serves as possible and best nutritive than ZnP or SeP for Wistar rats raising under high ambient temperature.

Zinc supplementation alleviates OTA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in MDCK cells by up-regulating metallothioneins.

AIMS: The present study was to investigate the protective effects of Zn supplementation in OTA-induced apoptosis of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells and explore the potential mechanisms. Aiming to provides a new insight into the treatment strategy of OTA-induced nephrotoxicity by nutritional regulation. MAIN METHODS: Initially, through MTT and LDH assay revealed that Zn supplementation significantly suppressed OTA-induced cytotoxicity in MDCK cells. Then, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by using a DCFH-DA assay. Annexin V-FITC/PI, Hoechst 33258 staining and Flow cytometry were used to detect the apoptosis. The expressions of apoptosis-related molecules were determined by RT-PCR, Western blotting. Interestingly, OTA treatment slightly increased the levels of Metallothionein-1 (MT-1) and Metallothionein-2 (MT-2) by using RT-PCR, Western blotting assay; while Zn supplementation further improved the increase of MT-1 and MT-2 induced by OTA. However, the inhibitive effects of Zn supplementation were significantly blocked after double knockdown of MT-1 and MT-2 by using Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) Transfection method. KEY FINDINGS: Our study provides supportive data for the potential roles of Zn in reducing OTA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in MDCK cells. SIGNIFICANCE: Zn is one of the key structural components of many proteins, which plays an important role in several physiological processes such as cell survival and apoptosis. This metal is expected to contribute to the conservative and adjuvant treatment of kidney disease and should therefore be investigated further.

Responsiveness Expressions of Bitter Taste Receptors Against Denatonium Benzoate and Genistein in the Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney, and Bursa Fabricius of Chinese Fast Yellow Chicken.

The present study was conducted to investigate the responsiveness expressions of ggTas2Rs against denatonium benzoate (DB) and genistein (GEN) in several organs of the Chinese Fast Yellow Chicken. A total of 300 one-day-old chicks that weighed an average of 32 g were randomly allocated into five groups with five replicates for 56 consecutive days. The dietary treatments consisted of basal diet, denatonium benzoate (5 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 100 mg/kg), and genistein 25 mg/kg. The results of qRT-PCR indicated significantly (p < 0.05) high-level expressions in the heart, spleen, and lungs in the starter and grower stages except for in bursa Fabricius. The responsiveness expressions of ggTas2Rs against DB 100 mg/kg and GEN 25 mg/kg were highly dose-dependent in the heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys in the starter and grower stages, but dose-independent in the bursa Fabricius in the finisher stage. The ggTas2Rs were highly expressed in lungs and the spleen, but lower in the bursa Fabricius among the organs. However, the organ growth performance significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the groups administered DB 5 mg/kg and GEN 25 mg/kg; meanwhile, the DB 20 mg/kg and DB 100 mg/kg treatments significantly reduced the growth of all the organs, respectively. These findings indicate that responsiveness expressions are dose-dependent, and bitterness sensitivity consequently decreases in aged chickens. Therefore, these findings may improve the production of new feedstuffs for chickens according to their growing stages.