Supplementation of sodium acetate improves the growth performance and intestinal health of rabbits through Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT

Acetic acid, which is one of the most abundant short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in rabbits' cecum, has been reported to play an important function during various physiological metabolic processes. The present study was conducted to elucidate the effects of sodium acetate on growth performance and intestinal health by evaluating feed intake and efficiency, diarrhea score, serum and cecum metabolites, cecal pH and SCFA, histological staining, nutritional composition of meat and gene expression profile of cecum in rabbits. As a result of sodium acetate supplement, the feed conversion ratio, diarrhea score, and diameter of muscle fiber were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Additionally, dietary sodium acetate significantly increased in total area of muscle fibers and content of crude ash (P < 0.05). Dietary sodium acetate significantly increased serum glucose, total bile acid, and total cholesterol levels and decreased amylase, lipase, and tCO2 content (P < 0.05). Further examination suggested that sodium acetate supplementation enhanced the micro-environment of cecum, evidenced by significantly increased levels of total antioxidant capacity, total superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase, and decreased pH and amylase levels (P < 0.05). According to transcriptome sequencing of cecal tissues, differentially expressed genes were predominantly enriched in cell cycle, ABC transporters, and chemokine signaling pathways. Sodium acetate was further suggested to stimulate the proliferation and migration of rabbits' cecum epithelial cells by activating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, dietary sodium acetate supplementation improved growth performance and intestinal health in rabbits.

Acetate plays a significant role in modulating production performance of animals. This study shows that sodium acetate supplementation in diet enhances rabbit growth performance by improving intestinal health and stimulating cecum epithelial cell proliferation. The supporting evidence suggests that sodium acetate significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio and diarrhea score in rabbits, while also enhancing the cecum's resistance to oxidative stress. Sodium acetate improves meat quality to some extent, as reflected in an increase total area of muscle fibers and content of crude ash. Sodium acetate was further suggested to stimulate the proliferation and migration of rabbits' cecum epithelial cells by activating Wnt/ß-catenin pathways both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, these findings suggest dietary sodium acetate is a useful additive for rabbit production.