Premium
In ovo feeding of l ‐arginine regulates intestinal barrier functions of posthatch broilers by activating the mTOR signaling pathway
Author(s) -
Gao Tian,
Zhao Minmeng,
Zhang Lin,
Li Jiaolong,
Yu Lanlin,
Gao Feng,
Zhou Guanghong
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.8609
Subject(s) - ribosomal protein s6 , in ovo , crypt , mucin 2 , arginine , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , ileum , jejunum , mechanistic target of rapamycin , biology , medicine , mucin , broiler , endocrinology , weight gain , small intestine , embryo , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , p70 s6 kinase 1 , zoology , body weight , amino acid , gene expression , gene
Abstract BACKGROUND During the last phase of incubation, dramatic physiological and metabolic changes occur in chick embryos, and supplies of nutrients and energy are always insufficient. This study investigated the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of l ‐arginine (Arg) on the hatchability, growth performance, intestinal development and functions of posthatch broilers. RESULTS The IOF of Arg increased ( P < 0.05) the feed intake and body weight gain during 1–21 days and 1–42 days, and the intestinal weight of 7‐ and 21‐day‐old broilers, compared with non‐injected control and diluent‐injected groups. The IOF of Arg increased ( P < 0.05) villus height (VH), ratio of VH to crypt depth (CD) and density of goblet cells, and decreased ( P < 0.05) the CD in jejunum of 1‐, 7‐ and 21‐day‐old broilers. The IOF of Arg also increased ( P < 0.05) the percentage of proliferating cell nuclear antigen positive cells of villus, and the mRNA expressions of mucin‐2, claudin‐1, zonula occludens‐1 and ‐2 in jejunal mucosa of 21‐day‐old broilers. Meanwhile, IOF of Arg increased ( P < 0.05) the protein abundance of phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 in jejunal mucosa. CONCLUSION The IOF of Arg improved the development and barrier functions of small intestine, which might be associated with activating the mTOR pathway. In addition, the improved intestinal development might explain the improvement in feed intake and consequently the growth performance of broilers. Therefore, IOF of Arg solution could be an effective technology for regulating early nutrition supply and subsequent growth development in the poultry industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry