Kaiwen Bai

Effect of various levels of dietary curcumin on meat quality and antioxidant profile of breast muscle in broilers.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of curcumin on meat quality and antioxidant profile of breast muscle in broilers. In experiment 1, birds were fed basal diet with an additional 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg curcumin, respectively. The results showed that dietary curcumin significantly increased the redness values of meat, catalase activity, and ABTS radical scavenging activity and decreased drip loss at 48 h. In experiment 2, birds reared under heat stress were assigned to similar treatments as experiment 1. Significant differences in the redox status of breast muscle were observed between the control and heat stress groups. The various levels of curcumin significantly prevented reactive oxygen species overproduction, enhanced the antioxidant defense system, and alleviated the abnormal change of antioxidant-related gene expression of muscle in heat-stressed birds. It was concluded that curcumin, as a potential antioxidant, improved meat quality and oxidant stability of muscle in broilers, whereas the inclusion of 50 and 100 mg/kg would be more efficient.

Dietary Tributyrin Supplementation Attenuates Insulin Resistance and Abnormal Lipid Metabolism in Suckling Piglets with Intrauterine Growth Retardation

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is associated with insulin resistance and lipid disorder. Tributyrin (TB), a pro-drug of butyrate, can attenuate dysfunctions in body metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of TB supplementation on insulin resistance and lipid metabolism in neonatal piglets with IUGR. Eight neonatal piglets with normal birth weight (NBW) and 16 neonatal piglets with IUGR were selected, weaned on the 7th day, and fed basic milk diets (NBW and IUGR groups) or basic milk diets supplemented with 0.1% tributyrin (IT group, IUGR piglets) until day 21 (n = 8). Relative parameters for lipid metabolism and mRNA expression were measured. Piglets with IUGR showed higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of insulin in the serum, higher (P < 0.05) HOMA-IR and total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) in the liver, and lower (P < 0.05) enzyme activities (hepatic lipase [HL], lipoprotein lipase [LPL], total lipase [TL]) and concentration of glycogen in the liver than the NBW group. TB supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the concentrations of insulin, HOMA-IR, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum, and the concentrations of TG and NEFA in the liver, and increased (P < 0.05) enzyme activities (HL, LPL, and TL) and concentration of glycogen in the liver of the IT group. The mRNA expression for insulin signal transduction pathway and hepatic lipogenic pathway (including transcription factors and nuclear factors) was significantly (P < 0.05) affected in the liver by IUGR, which was efficiently (P < 0.05) attenuated by diets supplemented with TB. TB supplementation has therapeutic potential for attenuating insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism in IUGR piglets by increasing enzyme activities and upregulating mRNA expression, leading to an early improvement in the metabolic efficiency of IUGR piglets.

Leucine improves growth performance of intrauterine growth retardation piglets by modifying gene and protein expression related to protein synthesis.

OBJECTIVE Leucine has been reported to alter the gene expression of proteins, the activation of signaling components, and the fractional rates of protein synthesis in multiple organs of piglets. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of leucine on molecular mechanisms regulating protein synthesis and degradation in skeletal muscle and determine how these adaptations affect body weight gain in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) pigs. METHODS Thirty-two weaned piglets were randomly assigned to the following four experimental groups (n = 8 per group): normal birth weight, normal birth weight supplemented with leucine, IUGR, and IUGR supplemented with leucine. Piglets were fed from 14 to 35 d of age. Growth performance, major serum biochemical parameters, and enzyme activities were evaluated. The messenger RNA expression of muscle mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx), and muscle-specific ring finger-1 were investigated. Additionally, total and phosphorylated levels of mTOR and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 were measured in longissimus muscle. RESULTS Average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake were increased by leucine in IUGR pigs. At the end of the experiment, IUGR pigs had lower liver and kidney weight compared with the normal piglets. However, IUGR supplemented with leucine decreased serum concentration of urea. Leucine supplementation affected the concentrations of isoleucine, valine, lysine, and phenylalanine in serum. There was no significant difference in the expression of mTOR and muscle-specific ring finger-1 in IUGR piglets, whereas muscle atrophy F-box was reduced only by IUGR dependent of leucine. Compared with the IC group, dietary supplementation with 0.35% l-leucine increased the phosphorylated levels of mTOR and ribosomal S6 kinase 1 in IUGR piglets. CONCLUSIONS The present study identified a major role for leucine in the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway and reducing muscle atrophy in IUGR piglets, which contributed significantly to differences in body weight gain.

Dietary effects of Bacillus subtilis fmbj on the antioxidant capacity of broilers at an early age

&NA; This study was designed to evaluate the usage of Bacillus subtilis fmbj (BS fmbj) in broiler diets, and its effects on the antioxidant capacity of broilers at an early age. A total of 240 day‐old male Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were randomly assigned to 4 groups, namely the control (CON) group (fed basal diets with 0 cfu/kg BS fmbj), the BS‐1 group (fed basal diet with 0.2 × 1011 cfu/kg BS fmbj), BS‐2 group (fed basal diet with 0.3 × 1011 cfu/kg BS fmbj), and BS‐3 group (fed basal diet with 0.4 × 1011 cfu/kg BS fmbj). No differences were found in the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) among the different treatments at 21 d. The BS groups showed lower (P < 0.05) levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) than that in the CON group at 21 d of growth. The dietary BS fmbj increased (P < 0.05) the antioxidant activity in the serum, liver, and hepatic mitochondria, but decreased (P < 0.05) the serum and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to those in the CON group at 21 d of feeding. The BS groups showed lower (P < 0.05) level of hepatic mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein carbonyls (PC), and 8‐hydroxy‐2‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG); however, in this group, higher (P < 0.05) levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) were determined compared to those in the birds of the CON group at 21 d. The BS group showed increased (P < 0.05) levels of antioxidant related‐gene expression in the liver and hepatic mitochondria compared to that in the CON group. In conclusion, BS fmbj (0.3 g/kg in broiler diets) has the potential to improve the antioxidant status of the body as well as the hepatic mitochondrial function and thus, appears to be an important additive for both the consumer and the industry.

Dietary effects of Bacillus subtilis fmbj on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and its antioxidant capacity of broilers

ABSTRACT This paper aimed to study the dietary effects of Bacillus subtilis fmbj (BS fmbj) on growth performance, small intestinal histomorphology, and its antioxidant capacity of broilers at 21 d of raising. A total of 300 1‐d old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly assigned to 5 groups: broilers fed the basal diets with 0 g/kg BS fmbj (CON), 0.2 g/kg BS fmbj (BS‐1), 0.3 g/kg BS fmbj (BS‐2), 0.4 g/kg BS fmbj (BS‐3), and 0.5 g/kg BS fmbj (BS‐4). The results showed that there were no differences in the growth performance among treatments during the trail. Dietary BS fmbj in broiler diets increased (P < 0.05) the serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration, and enhanced the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) level of small intestine (jejunum and ileum) compared with those in the CON group. The BS groups could improve (P < 0.05) the values of villus length, villus width, crypt depth, and villus area of small intestine compared with that in the CON group. Compared with the CON group, the BS group increased (P < 0.05) small intestinal antioxidant capacity and its mitochondrial antioxidant capacity, and also improved the antioxidant related‐gene expression. The BS group exerted a lower (P < 0.05) level of oxidative damages in small intestine than that of the CON group. In conclusion, dietary BS fmbj in broiler diets was potential to improve the small intestinal histomorphology, small intestinal antioxidant capacity, and its mitochondrial antioxidant capacity. Thus this BS fmbj might be considered to be an important additive for the poultry industry.

Curcumin attenuates heat-stress-induced oxidant damage by simultaneous activation of GSH-related antioxidant enzymes and Nrf2-mediated phase II detoxifying enzyme systems in broiler chickens

ABSTRACT The object of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin on modulating the glutathione (GSH)‐related antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant responses via NF‐E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in heat‐stressed broiler chickens. A total of 400 one‐day‐old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks was reared in an environmentally controlled room. At 21 d, broiler chicks were divided into 5 treatment groups and were fed one of 4 diets under 2 temperature conditions: 22°C + a basal diet (CON treatment); 34°C for 8 h (0900‐1700) + a basal diet supplemented with 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg curcumin (HS, CMN1, CMN2, and CMN3 treatments, respectively). The heat treatment lasted for 20 consecutive days. The results showed that heat stress significantly increased (P < 0.05) the weekly rectal temperature and average head and feet temperature. Compared to the HS treatment, feed conversion was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in CMN1 and CMN2 treatments. CMN1 administration significantly improved (P < 0.05) the pH24 of muscle. The abnormal changes of serum malonaldehyde and corticosterone concentrations were prevented (P < 0.05) by curcumin. Mitochondrial GSH concentration in the liver was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in CMN1 and CMN2 treatments compared with the HS treatment. The CMN1, CMN2, and CMN3 supplementations significantly increased (P < 0.05) &ggr;‐GCL, GSH‐Px, and GST activities. Curcumin significantly increased (P < 0.05) the expression of Nrf2, HO‐1, and &ggr;‐GCLc in the liver as compared to the CON diet. The expression of Cu/ZnSOD and CAT were increased (P < 0.05) by feeding CMN2, respectively, as compared to the HS treatment. It was concluded that curcumin supplementation enhanced the resistance of broilers to heat stress, as evidenced by reversing the FC, increasing the GSH content and GSH‐related enzyme activities, and inducing the expression of Nrf2 and Nrf2‐mediated phase II detoxifying enzyme genes.

Effects of dimethylglycine sodium salt supplementation on growth performance, hepatic antioxidant capacity, and mitochondria-related gene expression in weanling piglets born with low birth weight1

Dimethylglycine sodium salt (DMG-Na), has exhibited excellent advantages in animal experiments and human health. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with 0.1% DMG-Na on the growth performance, hepatic antioxidant capacity and mRNA expression of mitochondria-related genes in low birth weight (LBW) piglets during weaning period. Sixteen piglets with normal birth weight (NBW) and sixteen LBW piglets were fed either a basal diet or a 0.1% DMG-Na supplemented diet from age of 21 d to 49 d. Blood and liver samples were collected at the end of the study. The results showed that compared with NBW piglets, LBW piglets exhibited greater (P < 0.05) alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase activities in the serum. LBW decreased (P < 0.05) the activity of glutathione peroxidase, and increased (P < 0.05) the contents of malondialdehyde and H2O2 in liver. DMG-Na supplementation increased (P < 0.05) body weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency, decreased (P < 0.05) ALT and AST activities, and reduced the content of H2O2 in LBW piglets. LBW piglets had downregulated (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of thioredoxin 2, thioredoxin reductases 2, and nuclear respiratory factor-1 (Nrf1) in the liver. However, DMG-Na supplementation increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of Nrf1 in the liver. In conclusion, DMG-Na supplementation has beneficial effects in alleviating LBW-induced hepatic oxidative damage and changed mitochondrial genes expression levels, which is associated with increased antioxidant enzyme activities and up-regulating mRNA gene abundance.