Search Results (1,066)

Fat deposition in laying hens involves lipid synthesis, transport, storage, and allocation across multiple tissues, yet the metabolic links between abdominal fat (AF) and egg yolk (EY) lipid deposition remain unclear. Here, we integrated whole-genome resequencing data with untargeted metabolomic profiles from the liver, duodenum, ileum, cecum, and serum of 248 purebred Rhode Island Red hens at 100 weeks of age. We estimated metabolite-explained variance (me²) for 22 fat deposition-related traits, evaluated metabolite heritability, and combined Spearman correlation analysis with bidirectional generalized summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (GSMR) to identify shared metabolites and pathways associated with AF and EY traits. The me² showed clear tissue specificity, with the liver, serum, and duodenum showing significant explanatory signals for 77.3% (17/22), 72.7% (16/22), and 68.2% (15/22) of fat-related traits. Liver-, AF-, and body weight-related traits showed stronger metabolomic explanatory signals, with significant proportions of 71.4–100.0%, 28.6–100.0%, and 100.0% across tissues, respectively, whereas EY-related traits showed more restricted and tissue-specific associations (0–33.3%). Correlation analysis identified liver-enriched AF–EY shared metabolites (e.g., NADPH, cholesteryl sulfate, N6,N6,N6-trimethyllysine), most of which showed opposite association patterns between AF- and EY-related traits. Bidirectional GSMR prioritized 20 candidate metabolites with opposite putative effects on AF and EY traits, including CDP-choline, phosphorylcholine, and allantoin. Pathway integration highlighted fructose/mannose metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, ABC transporters, folate/one-carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism as core components of the AF–EY shared network. These findings reveal tissue-specific and shared metabolic bases of fat deposition and identify candidate metabolic signatures associated with lipid partitioning between abdominal fat and egg yolk in laying hens. Full article

Background:/ Over the past decade, increasing evidence has shifted attention from the brain to the gut microbiota (MB) as a source and site of systemic dissemination of amyloid-β (Aβ), an APP derivative responsible for plaque formation in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Furthermore, AD patients and APP/PS1 mice, a transgenic model of AD, exhibit dysbiosis. Objectives: Using APP/PS1 mice treated from 2 to 8 months of age, we studied ileal and colonic epithelial integrity, intestinal barrier (IB) integrity assessed through tight junction (TJ) protein expression, local immune system, the presence/increase in Aβ expression in enterocytes, and the protective effects of synbiotic treatment. Methods: The tissue was stained with Periodic Acid-Schiff and Alcian Blue to evaluate epithelial morphology and mucus production, and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess TJs, immune markers, and Aβ expression. Results: Our results demonstrate that colonic and ileal epithelium of 8-month-old APP/PS1 mice displays IB impairment in term of alterations of goblet cells staining and TJ protein expression and signs of immune involvement. The ileum was more severely affected, showing a reduced epithelial surface area, decreased lysozyme production, and fewer tuft cells. Long-term synbiotic treatment largely prevented APP/PS1 mouse changes and caused a significant increase in Aβ expression in all treated mice. Conclusions: These findings support the belief in early intestinal involvement in AD and highlight the potential of the microbiota as a target for early intervention aimed at modifying the progression to neurodegeneration. Increased epithelial Aβ labeling after treatment raises the possibility of intestinal management of Aβ, which requires further validation. Full article

This study tested the hypothesis that dietary L. acidophilus would improve nutrient utilization in yellow-feathered broilers mainly through intestinal changes rather than a consistent increase in growth performance. A total of 195 one-day-old broilers were assigned to a control group (basal diet), a T1 group (basal diet with 10 g/kg L. acidophilus), or a T2 group (basal diet with 15 g/kg L. acidophilus), with five replicates of 13 birds per treatment over 63 days. The biological responses followed a clear pattern. First, supplementation did not significantly affect average daily feed intake, average daily gain, or feed-to-gain ratio at any growth stage or across the entire trial (days 1–63; p > 0.05), indicating limited direct effects on growth. Second, the main nutritional response occurred during days 22–42, when T1 increased the apparent nutrient digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, crude protein, and gross energy compared to the control (p < 0.05). Third, intestinal responses aligned with localized gut modulation: both supplemented groups had higher culture-based Lactobacillus counts and lower E. coli counts in the cecum and ileum (p < 0.05), and T1 increased duodenal villus height (p < 0.05). In contrast, serum biochemical, immune, and antioxidant indices showed only isolated, phase-dependent changes and were not considered the primary response. Overall, moderate dietary supplementation with L. acidophilus enhanced nutrient utilization during mid-growth and was linked to targeted intestinal bacterial and morphological changes, but it did not consistently improve growth performance in yellow-feathered broilers. Full article

To identify efficient cellulose-degrading microbes suitable for the animal intestinal environment and to address the low utilization of crude fiber in feed, eight cellulolytic strains were isolated from the ileum of Yangzhou geese. Among them, strain A2 showed the highest cellulolytic activity (D/d = 1.48) via the CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) agar transparent zone method. Based on whole-genome-based identification, strain A2 was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a circular chromosome of 4.02 Mb with a GC content of 43.72%, containing 4083 protein-coding sequences, of which 7.40% were involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolism. CAZyme annotation identified 167 carbohydrate-active enzyme genes, including 64 glycoside hydrolase genes, along with 60 hemicellulase and 3 lignin-degrading enzyme genes, forming a complete lignocellulose-degrading system. The cellulase from A2 exhibited optimal activity at 55 °C and pH 7.0, with good stability at 50–65 °C and pH 5–7, and was significantly inhibited by Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Zn²⁺. Notably, its degradation efficiency toward microcrystalline cellulose reached 197% of that toward CMC. In conclusion, B. subtilis A2, with its excellent enzymatic properties and robust genetic foundation, is a promising candidate for developing feed enzymes and enhancing lignocellulose utilization. Full article

Dietary fiber is a critical determinant of intestinal health, yet its optimal inclusion level for WWG during the critical brooding period remains undefined. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying dietary CF levels (approximately 3%, 5%, and 9%) on the intestinal morphology, immune function, and microbiome-metabolome axis of brooding WWG. A total of 120 one-day-old goslings were randomly assigned to the three dietary treatments for a 28-day trial. Histological analysis revealed that the 9% CF diet significantly improved gut morphology, yielding superior villus-to-crypt ratios in the jejunum and ileum. Molecular assays indicated that higher fiber levels (5–9%) upregulated the expression of nutrient transporters (SGLT1 and GLUT2). Concurrently, the 9% CF diet effectively suppressed the potent pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α in the jejunum while appropriately upregulating IL-6 and NF-κB, indicating enhanced mucosal immune vigilance and structural maturation. Multi-omics integration (shotgun metagenomics and LC-MS metabolomics) demonstrated that specific fiber levels significantly shifted microbial abundances, specifically enriching Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. These microbial shifts were strongly correlated with enriched metabolic pathways, notably lysine biosynthesis and purine metabolism, which synergistically support mucosal homeostasis. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that a 9% dietary CF inclusion is an effective nutritional strategy to optimize intestinal architecture and microbial-metabolic profiles in brooding WWG. Full article

A novel Bacillus velezensis strain DY201, isolated from broiler feces, was characterized to assess its probiotic potential as an antibiotic alternative in poultry production. The strain demonstrated robust environmental tolerance with optimal growth at 42 °C and 51.32% survival following sequential exposure to simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. DY201 exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella pullorum, and Clostridium perfringens, with activity remaining stable across pH 5.0–8.0 and retaining over 92.65% efficacy after 85 °C treatment. Scanning electron microscopy revealed metabolite-induced membrane perforation in target pathogens. Although whole-genome sequencing identified 14 biosynthetic gene clusters for lipopeptides including surfactin and fengycin, integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses detected small-molecule metabolites—Withaferin A, 2′-hydroxy-2-methoxychalcone, and platycodigenin—as the primary antimicrobial effectors. In a preliminary broiler trial, dietary DY201 supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacillus in the ileum from 0.30% to 10.30% (p = 0.0434) and in the jejunum from 0.77% to 5.56% (p = 0.0453), enriched the generally beneficial genus Lactobacillus in the jejunum from 73.05% to 80.11% (p = 0.0323), and reduced Candidatus Arthromitus in the ileum from 13.38% to 0.59% (p = 0.0105). These findings support B. velezensis DY201 as a promising probiotic candidate for intestinal microbiota modulation in broilers, although functional intestinal health benefits require further validation through growth performance, barrier function, immune response, and pathogen challenge studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sleep deprivation (SD) induces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the intestine, causing inflammation in the intestine, thereby damaging the intestinal epithelial barrier function. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Dendrobium huoshanense (DHS) modulates intestinal flora, maintains the intestinal mucosal barrier, and promotes gastrointestinal motility and digestive secretion. However, the role and mechanism of DHS in improving SD-induced intestinal injury have not been fully studied. Methods: The SD model was established by subjecting rats to complete SD using a specialised SD instrument. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate pathological injury in ileal tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biochemical methods were used to quantify the main inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity. The expression levels of E-cadherin and Occludin proteins in the ileum tissue were analyzed by Western blotting. Additionally, the pH value of ileal mucus, unit secretion, water content, and dry matter weight were measured. Differential metabolites in rat ileum mucus were profiled using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Results: DHS alleviated the pathological injury of the ileum induced by SD. DHS reduced the levels of serotonin (5-HT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), while increasing interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels, thereby attenuating systemic inflammatory responses. Furthermore, DHS decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and elevated glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in ileal tissues. DHS also upregulated the protein expression of E-cadherin and Occludin in intestinal tissues. In addition, DHS decreased the pH of ileal mucus, promoted intestinal mucus secretion, and increased dry matter content, facilitating the restoration of the mucus barrier. DHS may alleviate SD-induced ileal injury by modulating steroid hormone biosynthesis. DHS decreased the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT), and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), indicating that DHS suppresses the abnormal activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Conclusions: In this study, a comprehensive multi-index evaluation showed that DHS could significantly improve the ileal injury caused by SD in rats. The mechanism involved regulating the balance of serum neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors, reducing oxidative stress in tissues, and improving the physicochemical properties of intestinal mucus. Metabolomic analysis further revealed that these protective effects may be mediated via the regulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways and are associated with the inhibition of abnormal HPA axis activation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Eubacterium limosum El1405 is a novel probiotic candidate strain that has been shown to exert prominent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor bioactivities, with potential antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the safety of E. limosum El1405 and its probiotic functions and protective effects against pathogenic bacterial infection. Methods: The safety of E. limosum El1405 was assessed through in vitro assays of hemolytic and gelatinase activities and a 28-day subchronic oral toxicity mouse model. In the mouse model, three different doses (low, medium, and high) of E. limosum El1405 were tested, and physiological status, visceral histopathology, hematological profiles, serum biochemistry, and cytokines were measured. The antibacterial activity of the strain against pathogenic bacteria was determined in vitro. A Salmonella Typhimurium -infected mouse model was used to assess its potential to protect against infection. Results: In vitro safety assays confirmed that E. limosum El1405 possessed no hemolytic or gelatinase activity. In the 28-day subchronic oral toxicity test, low, medium, and high doses of El1405 caused no significant alterations in mouse body weight, visceral index, organ histopathology, hematological parameters, serum biochemistry, or cytokine levels. The strain exhibited antibacterial activity against S. Typhimurium in vitro. In S. Typhimurium-infected mice, El1405 intervention effectively mitigated S. Typhimurium-induced damage, reduced visceral bacterial loads, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in the ileum and serum, and elevated the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Conclusions:E. limosum El1405 displays a favorable safety profile and promising probiotic effects, including antibacterial capacity and anti-inflammatory protective effects against S. Typhimurium infection, supporting further exploration and development of E. limosum El1405 as a novel functional probiotic strain for clinical and health applications. Full article

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace mineral additive in weaned pig diets. Copper citrate (CuCit) and copper sulfate (CuSO₄) are common feed additives, yet their tissue-specific effects at different inclusion levels remain unclear. In this study, ninety pigs (six pens per treatment, three pigs per pen) with an initial body weight of 7.71 ± 0.15 kg were randomly assigned to five treatments for 28 d: a basal diet, and the basal diet supplemented with CuCit or CuSO₄ at 20 or 100 mg/kg. The results show that CuCit increased slow-twitch fiber proportion in longissimus dorsi muscle (p = 0.009), whereas CuSO₄ more markedly upregulated the expression of MyHC I (p = 0.005) and downregulated MyHC IIx (p = 0.006) and MyHC IIb (p = 0.033). Compared with the control group, CuCit and CuSO₄ supplementation increased villus height and decreased crypt depth in ileum (p < 0.05). CuCit at 20 mg/kg showed higher ZO-1 expression than CuSO₄ at 100 mg/kg (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CuCit showed greater T-SOD (p = 0.018) and CAT activities (p = 0.002) than CuSO₄ in muscle, as well as greater T-SOD activity (p = 0.011) and lower MDA content (p = 0.001) in ileal mucosa. These results suggest that CuCit and CuSO₄ exhibit different tissue-specific effects in weaned pigs, providing novel insights for precision Cu supplementation. Full article

Age-related changes in the gut significantly impact host health, yet the multi-omics dynamics during the maturation of Tibetan pigs remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the morphological, microbial, metabolic, and transcriptomic transformations in the intestines of aging Tibetan pigs. We analyzed the ileum and colon of 1-year-old and 3-year-old Tibetan pigs using histological evaluation, 16S rRNA sequencing, metabolomics, and transcriptomics. Aging to 3 years significantly improved ileal architecture, notably increasing the villus height to crypt depth ratio. Older pigs exhibited higher colonic microbial diversity, a decreased Firmicutes to Bacteroidota ratio, and enrichment of homeostasis-associated taxa, including Lactobacillus, Prevotellaceae, and Ruminococcaceae. Metabolomics revealed higher abundance of certain metabolites, including docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids, enriching lipid metabolism and bile secretion pathways. Transcriptomics identified 2363 differentially expressed genes in the ileum, primarily involved in immune regulation and nutrient digestion. Integrated analysis showed strong positive correlations between enriched microbes (Lactobacillus porci) and up-regulated host genes (UGT2B31, CCL28) governing intestinal homeostasis. The transition from 1 to 3 years of age in Tibetan pigs fosters a synergistic host-microbiome environment, enhancing intestinal barrier function, immune capacity, and metabolic efficiency. Full article

N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) is a structural analog of N-acetylglutamate and has multifunctional roles in animal production. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of NCG on protein digestive function and muscle growth in broiler chickens. This study investigated whether NCG could improve muscle growth via protein digestive ability and amino acid metabolism in broiler chickens. A total of 144 one-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly allocated to four treatments with six replicates of 6 broiler chickens each. The treatments were a basal diet and a basal diet with NCG supplementation at three graded levels (150 g/t, 300 g/t, and 450 g/t of NCG). The results showed that NCG supplementation significantly improved the average daily weight gain (ADG) and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and increased the weight of leg muscle and breast muscle. Furthermore, NCG supplementation significantly increased protein digestibility, the activities of amylase, trypsin and lipase, and villus height in the ileum (p < 0.05), which demonstrated that digestibility and absorption were improved by NCG in broiler chickens. Analysis of plasma amino acids, hormone levels and the gene expression of breast muscle revealed that NCG increased the concentration of GABA, glutamate, glutamine, leucine, threonine, valine, branched-chain amino acids and essential amino acids and the levels of testosterone and IGF-1 in plasma (p < 0.05). Additionally, NCG increased the expression of mTOR and P70S6K in breast muscle tissue. Therefore, NCG supplementation could be an important nutritional strategy to improve product performance, muscle growth and development, and meat yield. The 300 g/t supplementation level was found to be the practical optimum dose, as it produced effects comparable to the highest dose (450 g/t) on most parameters while offering better cost-effectiveness. This study provides new insights into the application of NCG for meat production improvement in broiler chickens. Full article

Growing concern over antibiotic resistance in poultry production has increased interest in natural feed additives such as Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom)-derived products. This study evaluated three freeze-dried oyster mushroom powders: total fresh fruiting body (OMP-TF), cooked solid residue (OMP-CSR), and cooked liquid fraction (OMP-CL), as dietary supplements in male Coturnix japonica. A β-glucan positive control and basal diet negative control were included. Birds (1-day-old) were fed experimental diets from 1 to 28 days. An Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge was applied 12 h before sampling to induce an immune system activity. Growth performance, immune system activity, spleen relative weight, ileum morphometry, and antioxidant capacity were then evaluated to determine the effects of the experimental diets. Mushroom supplementation significantly modulated body weight during weeks 2–3 and overall weight gain, with OMP-TF maintaining higher body weight at week 4. Relative spleen weight, villus morphometry, cytokine responses (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4), and total antioxidant capacity were not significantly altered compared with LPS controls. Overall, P. ostreatus supplementation modulated growth performance under inflammatory challenge conditions, without significantly affecting the measured immune or intestinal parameters. These findings suggest a potential role of mushroom-derived products as growth-supporting feed additives; however, further studies are needed to clarify their effects on immune function and intestinal health. Full article

Tributyrin, a short-chain fatty acid derivative, has been shown to hold potential in improving intestinal health in livestock and poultry. However, its multidimensional effects on the health of meat pigeons, particularly during the young pigeon stage, remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the comprehensive effects of dietary tributyrin supplementation on the growth, health status, intestinal function, and metabolic profile of young pigeons. A total of 100 healthy 29-day-old White King pigeons, with half male and half female, were randomly divided into a control group (fed a basal diet) and a treatment group (fed a basal diet supplemented with 1500 mg/kg tributyrin) for a 35-day trial. The results showed that compared with the control group, young pigeons in the treatment group had significantly reduced serum triglyceride levels, alanine aminotransferase activity, and concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), along with significantly increased levels of high-density lipoprotein, immunoglobulin G, total antioxidant capacity, and glutathione peroxidase activity. Concurrently, the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio in the jejunum and ileum was significantly elevated, indicating improved intestinal morphological structure. Untargeted metabolomics analysis further revealed significant changes in the relative abundances of 13 key differential metabolites (e.g., L-carnitine, pyridoxamine, indoleacetic acid) in the small intestinal contents of the treatment group. These metabolites were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways such as 2-oxoCarboxylic acid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and vitamin B6 metabolism. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 1500 mg/kg tributyrin can exert multifaceted beneficial effects on young pigeon health by improving lipid metabolism, enhancing immune and antioxidant functions, optimizing intestinal structure, and regulating the local metabolic network. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of tributyrin as a functional additive in the green and healthy production of meat pigeons. Full article

Seven Rambouillet-crossbred wethers were utilized to examine the impact of copper (Cu) supplementation on plasma, bile, liver, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum tissue Cu concentrations and Cu trafficking proteins abundance in the duodenum and liver. Wethers were assigned to one of two treatments: (1) control: no supplemental Cu and (2) +Cu: 12 mg of supplemental Cu/kg DM. After receiving treatments for 29 days, all wethers were harvested, and blood, bile, liver, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum samples were collected for Cu concentration analysis. Additional duodenum and liver samples were collected for proteomic analysis. Animals in the +Cu group had a greater (p < 0.02) Cu concentration in plasma, liver, and jejunum, but a lesser (p < 0.01) ileum Cu Concentration compared to controls. Duodenum and bile Cu concentrations and protein abundance for Cu trafficking proteins in the duodenum and liver were similar (p > 0.10) across treatments. In the +Cu group, 23 and 5 proteins were unique to the duodenum and liver, respectively, while the control group had 20 and 28 unique proteins in those tissues. These data indicate that known proteins responsible for Cu trafficking were not changed by the dose of Cu supplementation, ultimately allowing Cu to accumulate in the liver. Full article

This study evaluated the nutritional composition, nutrient digestibility, and effects on small intestinal morphology of feather meal (100% feather meal) and a mixed meal consisting of 90% feather meal and 10% offal meal. A total of 300 twenty-two-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated into two dietary treatment groups (93% feather meal- or mixed meal-based diets). Each treatment had six replicates of 25 birds in each replication, and the experiment lasted 7 days using a direct feeding approach for nutrient digestibility evaluation. Data were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM) of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS), and treatment means were compared using a two-sample t-test (5%). Results showed that feather meal had higher crude protein and gross energy, while mixed meal contained greater ash, crude fiber, and unsaturated fatty acids. Feather meal was rich in methionine and lysine, whereas mixed meal had higher levels of valine, leucine, and serine. Standardized ileal digestibility was higher for fiber and most amino acids in the mixed meal, while protein digestibility and metabolizable energy were similar (p > 0.05) between treatments. Additionally, birds fed the mixed meal exhibited improved intestinal morphology, with greater jejunum and ileum villus height. In summary, the mixed meal showed better digestibility and gut morphology, indicating greater potential as a sustainable protein source. Full article