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Chang X, Wang B, Zhang H, Qiu K, Wu S. The change of albumen quality during the laying cycle and its potential physiological and molecular basis of laying hens. Poult Sci 2024; 103:104004. [PMID: 39067125 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms that impact variability in albumen quality of laying hens from the peak of lay to the late production phase. A 60-wk study was conducted on a cohort of 20,000 Hy-Line Brown laying hens from 20 to 80 wk old. Before commencement at 20 wk, the 10-wk-old hens were acclimatized for 10 wk. This study examined changes in albumen quality, serum, and liver antioxidant capacity, magnum morphology, and expression of albumen-protein-related genes in the magnum. To reduce sampling error, we collected eggs (n = 90) from pre-determined cages at every sampling point (5-wk intervals), and 8 hens were selected at 10-wk intervals for blood and tissue collection. Our findings revealed that age significantly affected most evaluated parameters. Albumen gel properties, including hardness, gumminess, and chewiness, increased significantly with age (P < 0.05). With the increasing of hens' age from 20 to 80 wk, the albumen proportion of eggs was decreased, but eggshell proportion, yolk proportion, thick albumen proportion, thick to thin ratio, thick albumen solid content, albumen height, Haugh units (HU), and yolk color were increased and then decreased (P < 0.05). Compared to hens aged 20 to 60 wk, the hens (70-80 wk) had significantly reduced total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione levels (GSH) in the liver and lower serum TAC and superoxide dismutase levels (SOD) (P < 0.05). The magnum mucosal folds were highest in 40 to 60 wk-old hens, and the luminal diameter increased with age (P < 0.05). In the magnum, the mRNA expression levels for OVA, CPE, and NUP205 increased significantly between 30 and 40 wk, while FBN1 expression was higher between 30 and 50 wk (P < 0.05). At 70 to 80 wk, the expression of BRCA2 was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). Albumen height, thick albumen proportion with protein secretion-related genes, enhanced antioxidant function, and luminal diameter correlated positively. However, the thick-to-thin albumen ratio negatively correlated with BRCA2, downregulated in aged laying hens. We used principal component and cluster analysis to deduce albumen quality changes during 3 phases: 25 to 35, 40 to 55, and 60 to 80 wk. The decline in albumen quality in aging hens is linked with decreased antioxidant capacity, magnum health, and downregulation of key genes involved in protein synthesis and secretion. These findings emphasize critical albumen quality changes in laying hens and suggest molecular pathways underlying age-related albumen quality alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Chang
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Animal Products on Feed Hazards (Beijing) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - BeiBei Wang
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Animal Products on Feed Hazards (Beijing) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China
| | - Haijun Zhang
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Animal Products on Feed Hazards (Beijing) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Kai Qiu
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Animal Products on Feed Hazards (Beijing) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Shugeng Wu
- Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Animal Products on Feed Hazards (Beijing) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Míčková K, Jelínek V, Tomášek O, Stopková R, Stopka P, Albrecht T. Proteomic analysis reveals dynamic changes in cloacal fluid composition during the reproductive season in a sexually promiscuous passerine. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14259. [PMID: 38902251 PMCID: PMC11190206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62244-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptic female choice (CFC) is a component of postcopulatory sexual selection that allows females to influence the fertilization success of sperm from different males. While its precise mechanisms remain unclear, they may involve the influence of the protein composition of the female reproductive fluids on sperm functionality. This study maps the protein composition of the cloacal fluid across different phases of female reproductive cycle in a sexually promiscuous passerine, the barn swallow. Similar to mammals, the protein composition in the female reproductive tract differed between receptive (when females copulate) and nonreceptive phases. With the change in the protein background, the enriched gene ontology terms also shifted. Within the receptive phase, distinctions were observed between proteomes sampled just before and during egg laying. However, three proteins exhibited increased abundance during the entire receptive phase compared to nonreceptive phases. These proteins are candidates in cryptic female choice, as all of them can influence the functionality of sperm or sperm-egg interaction. Our study demonstrates dynamic changes in the cloacal environment throughout the avian breeding cycle, emphasizing the importance of considering these fluctuations in studies of cryptic female choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristýna Míčková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Jelínek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oldřich Tomášek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Romana Stopková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Stopka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Yang S, Deng H, Zhu J, Shi Y, Luo J, Chen T, Sun J, Zhang Y, Xi Q. Organic Trace Elements Improve the Eggshell Quality via Eggshell Formation Regulation during the Late Phase of the Laying Cycle. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1637. [PMID: 38891684 PMCID: PMC11170995 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The quality of eggshells is critical to the egg production industry. The addition of trace elements has been shown to be involved in eggshell formation. Organic trace elements have been found to have higher biological availability than inorganic trace elements. However, the effects of organic trace elements additive doses on eggshell quality during the laying period of commercial laying hens required further investigation. This experiment aims to explore the potential mechanisms of different doses of organic trace elements replacing inorganic elements to remodel the eggshell quality of egg-laying hens during the laying period. A total of 360 healthy hens (Lohmann Pink, 45-week-old) were randomly divided into four treatments, with six replications per treatment and 15 birds per replication. The dietary treatments included a basal diet supplemented with inorganic iron, copper, zinc and manganese at commercial levels (CON), a basal diet supplemented with organic iron, copper, zinc and manganese at 20% commercial levels (LOT), a basal diet supplemented with organic iron, copper, zinc and manganese at 30% commercial levels (MOT), and a basal diet supplemented with organic iron, copper, zinc and manganese at 40% commercial levels (HOT). The trial lasted for 8 weeks. The results of the experiment showed that the replacement of organic trace elements did not significantly affect the production performance of laying hens (p > 0.05). Compared with inorganic trace elements, the MOT and HOT groups improved the structure of the eggshells, enhanced the hardness and thickness of the eggshells, increased the Haugh unit of the eggs, reduced the proportion of the mammillary layer in the eggshell, and increased the proportion of the palisade layer (p < 0.05). In addition, the MOT and HOT groups also increased the enzyme activity related to carbonate transport in the blood, the expression of uterine shell gland-related genes (CA2, OC116, and OCX32), and the calcium and phosphorus content in the eggshells (p < 0.05). We also found that the MOT group effectively reduced element discharge in the feces and enhanced the transportation of iron (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 30-40% organic micronutrients were able to improve eggshell quality in aged laying hens by modulating the activity of serum carbonate transport-related enzymes and the expression of eggshell deposition-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songfeng Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
- Guangdong Xingtengke Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Zhaoqing 526000, China
| | - Haibin Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Jiahao Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Yiru Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Junyi Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Ting Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Jiajie Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Yongliang Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Qianyun Xi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China; (S.Y.); (H.D.); (J.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (T.C.); (J.S.)
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Wang J, Zhang T, Wan C, Lai Z, Li J, Chen L, Li M. The effect of theabrownins on the amino acid composition and antioxidant properties of hen eggs. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102717. [PMID: 37734359 PMCID: PMC10518584 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pu-erh tea theabrownins (TBs) exert beneficial effect on egg quality and antioxidant properties of eggs, but the underlying mechanisms behind this response are unclear. In this study, we investigate the effect of TBs on egg antioxidative activity, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and the underlying relationship between the TBs and oxidant-sensitive Nrf2 signaling pathway in laying hens. Eighty layers were fed a basal diet (control) and 400 mg/kg of TBs supplemented diet for 12 wk. TBs led to an increase in albumen height and Haugh unit (P < 0.05). The albumen lysine, valine, and tryptophan were higher in layers fed TBs, whereas yolk tryptophan, methionine, vitamin A, and α-tocopherol content were enhanced by TBs (P < 0.05). Eggs albumen and yolk showed higher total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), reducing power (RP), and the scavenging rate of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH), and lower MDA content than those of eggs from the control group (P < 0.05). Also, magnum Nrf2, hemeoxygenase 1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), and Bcl2 expression were up-regulated by TBs, whereas magnum proapoptotic gene (Bax, caspase 3, Cyt C) were down-regulated by TBs (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that TBs improved egg albumen quality and antioxidant activity, and the Nrf2-ARE pathway were found to be involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianping Wang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Chunpeng Wan
- Research Center of Tea and Tea Culture, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Zhangfeng Lai
- Research Center of Tea and Tea Culture, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China
| | - Jun Li
- Tea Science Research Institute, Xiushui, Jiujiang, 332400, China
| | - Luojun Chen
- Tea Science Research Institute, Xiushui, Jiujiang, 332400, China
| | - Mingxi Li
- Research Center of Tea and Tea Culture, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China.
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Elkomy HS, Koshich II, Mahmoud SF, Abo-Samaha MI. Use of lactulose as a prebiotic in laying hens: its effect on growth, egg production, egg quality, blood biochemistry, digestive enzymes, gene expression and intestinal morphology. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:207. [PMID: 37845670 PMCID: PMC10578020 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03741-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rising popularity of eggs as an alternative source of protein to meat has led to significant increase in egg consumption over the past decade. To meet the increasing demand for eggs, poultry farmers have used antibiotics to treat infections and, to some extent, promote growth and egg production in raising layer. However, the emergence and global spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria has now necessitated antibiotic-free poultry farming. As alternatives to antibiotics, prebiotics are feed additives that can be used to improve the growth and laying performance of poultry which positively impacts their performance and general health. In this study we evaluated the effect of lactulose, formulated as Vetelact, on body weight, egg production, egg quality, blood biochemical parameters and expression of genes associated with reproductive performance in laying hens. RESULTS Vetelact supplementation improved egg weight, egg production as well as egg quality. Following Vetalact supplementation, the levels of total bilirubin, total protein, globulin and phosphorus were increased, while the activities of alkaline phosphatase and lipase enzymes were increased compared to control. Vetelact at 0.10 ml/kg body weight upregulated OCX-36, OVAL, CALB1, OC-116, OCX-32 and IL8 transcripts while downregulating the transcription of Gal-10, PENK and AvBD9. At this optimal inclusion rate of Vetalect, histomorphologic analyses of intestinal tissue showed increased villi length with more goblet cell distribution and obvious mucus covering a surface, increase in the depth of intestinal crypts produce digestive enzymes, as well as more developed muscle layer that promote improved nutrient absorption. CONCLUSION Vetelact at a dose of 0.10 ml/ kg body weight was effective in improving productive performance of laying hens. Adding lactulose (0.10 ml/ kg body weight) to layer diet is recommended to promote growth and improve egg laying performance in antibiotics-free poultry production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan S Elkomy
- Poultry Breeding and Production, Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina, Beheira, 22758, Egypt
- Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology Named After K.I. Skryabin, 23, Academician Skryabin Street, Moscow, 109472, Russia
| | - Ivan I Koshich
- Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology Named After K.I. Skryabin, 23, Academician Skryabin Street, Moscow, 109472, Russia
| | - Sahar F Mahmoud
- Histology and Cytology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhur University, Damanhur, 22511, Egypt
| | - Magda I Abo-Samaha
- Poultry Breeding and Production, Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Edfina, Beheira, 22758, Egypt.
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Bernardi O, Bourdon G, Estienne A, Brossaud A, Ramé C, Reverchon M, Dupont J. Adipokines expression in reproductive tract, egg white and embryonic annexes in hen. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102908. [PMID: 37478623 PMCID: PMC10387612 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, molecules mainly secreted by white adipose tissue named adipokines are also synthetized locally in the reproductive tract and are able to influence reproductive functions. In avian species, previous studies indicated that the adipokine chemerin is highly abundant in the albumen, compared to the yolk and this was associated to high chemerin expression in the magnum. In addition, the authors observed that chemerin and its receptors are expressed by allantoic and amniotic membranes and chemerin is present in fluids during the embryo development. Here, we studied other adipokines, including adiponectin, visfatin, apelin, and adipolin in egg white and their known receptors in the active (egg-laying hen) and regressed (hen not laying) oviduct and embryonic annexes during embryo development. By using Western blot, RT-qPCR analysis and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated the expression of different adipokines in the egg albumen (visfatin) and the reproductive tract (adiponectin, visfatin, apelin, adipolin, and their cognate receptors) according the position of egg in the oviduct. We showed that the expression of adipokines and adipokines receptors was strongly reduced in the regressed oviducts (arrested laying hen). Results indicated that visfatin and adiponectin appeared at ED11 to 14 and increased until ED18 in amniotic fluid whereas it was found from ED7 and was unchanged during embryo development in allantoic fluid. Taken together, adipokines and their receptors are expressed in the egg white, the reproductive tract and the embryonic annexes. Data obtained suggest important functions of theses metabolic hormones during the chicken embryo development. Thus, adipokines could be potential biomarkers to improve the embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ophélie Bernardi
- SYSAAF French Poultry and Aquaculture Breeders Technical Center, Research for Agriculture, Food and Environment Institute Val de Loire Center, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; French National Centre for Scientific Research, French Horse and Riding Institute, Research for Agriculture, Food and Environment Institute, Tours University, Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior Unit, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Bourdon
- French National Centre for Scientific Research, French Horse and Riding Institute, Research for Agriculture, Food and Environment Institute, Tours University, Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior Unit, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Anthony Estienne
- French National Centre for Scientific Research, French Horse and Riding Institute, Research for Agriculture, Food and Environment Institute, Tours University, Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior Unit, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Adeline Brossaud
- French National Centre for Scientific Research, French Horse and Riding Institute, Research for Agriculture, Food and Environment Institute, Tours University, Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior Unit, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Christelle Ramé
- French National Centre for Scientific Research, French Horse and Riding Institute, Research for Agriculture, Food and Environment Institute, Tours University, Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior Unit, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Maxime Reverchon
- SYSAAF French Poultry and Aquaculture Breeders Technical Center, Research for Agriculture, Food and Environment Institute Val de Loire Center, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Joëlle Dupont
- French National Centre for Scientific Research, French Horse and Riding Institute, Research for Agriculture, Food and Environment Institute, Tours University, Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior Unit, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
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Ren HL, Zhao XY, Di KQ, Li LH, Hao EY, Chen H, Zhou RY, Nie CS, Wang DH. Eggshell translucency in late-phase laying hens and its effect on egg quality and physiological indicators. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1133752. [PMID: 37275613 PMCID: PMC10233096 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1133752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Eggshell translucency severely affects external egg quality, and variations in the eggshell or eggshell membrane are considered the structural basis of the trait. Research has shown that 1.85% additional mixed fatty acids in the diet would greatly decrease the occurrence of eggshell translucency. Only a few studies have examined the phenotypic regularity of eggshell translucency with the increasing age of hens. Therefore, two strains, 1139 Rhode Island Red-White (RIR-White) and 836 Dwarf Layer-White (DWL-White), were used, and from each strain, 30 hens each that consecutively laid translucent or opaque eggs at 67 wks of age were selected. Subsequently, eggshell translucency, internal quality and external quality of eggs, and total cholesterol, albumin, calcium binding protein and other physiological indicators related to lipid, lipoprotein, and calcium metabolisms at the 75th, 79th, and 83rd wks of age in the late phase of the laying cycle were determined. Results: (1) In terms of flocks, for both strains, the translucency scores of the translucent groups were significantly higher than those of the opaque groups (P < 0.05); in terms of individuals, 81.1% RIR-White and 82.8% DWL-White hens consecutively laid eggs of the same or similar translucency, indicating the stability of the trait with increasing hen age; (2) In RIR-White, the eggshell strength of the translucent group at 75 weeks was significantly higher than that of the opaque group (P < 0.05); in DWL-White, the eggshell membrane thickness of the translucent group at the 75th and 83rd weeks was significantly lower than that of the opaque group (P < 0.05); (3) Compared to the opaque groups, the translucent groups had lower total cholesterol content in both RIR-White and DWL-White, lower albumin content in DWL-White at the 79th weeks (P < 0.05), and higher calcium-binding protein (CALB1) in RIR-White at the 83rd weeks (P < 0.05). In summary, this study illustrates the stability of eggshell translucency in late-phase laying hens and provides a reference of physiological indicators for exploring the formation of translucent eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- He-Ling Ren
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Zhao
- Baoding Xingrui Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Development Co., Ltd., Baoding, China
| | - Ke-Qian Di
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, China
| | - Lan-Hui Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Er-Ying Hao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Hui Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Rong-Yan Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Chang-Sheng Nie
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and MOA Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - De-He Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
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8
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Elhamouly M, Nii T, Isobe N, Yoshimura Y. Aging-associated increased nitric oxide production is a potential cause of inferior eggshell quality produced by aged laying hens. Theriogenology 2023; 205:63-72. [PMID: 37086586 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
It is important to prolong the productive life of laying hens without compromising their welfare. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify the cause for inferior quality egg production of aged hens by investigating the aging-associated molecular changes related to eggshell formation in the isthmic and uterine mucosae and determining whether nitric oxide plays a role in decreasing the quality of eggs produced by aged hens. Young (35 weeks old) and aged (130 weeks old) White Leghorn laying hens were used in this study to determine the effects of age on the expression of proteins related to eggshell membranes formation in the isthmus and eggshell biomineralization and nitric oxide production in the uterus. Nitric oxide synthesis during the ovulatory cycle was examined in twenty-five laying hens (46-52 weeks old) euthanized at 0, 4, 7, 16, and 24 h after oviposition. S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (a nitric oxide donor) was added to the cultured isthmic and uterine mucosal cells to examine the effects of nitric oxide on the expression of genes related to eggshell membranes formation and eggshell biomineralization, respectively. The results showed that the protein abundance of collagen I and V in the isthmic mucosa and collagen V in the eggshell membranes were lower in aged hens than in young hens. The mRNA expression levels of calbindin, osteopontin, and ovocalyxin-36 and the protein abundance of calbindin and carbonic anhydrase-2 were lower in the uterine mucosa of aged hens than in that of young hens. Nitric oxide synthesis was higher in the uterine mucosa of aged hens than in that of young hens. Nitric oxide downregulated the mRNA expression levels of osteopontin and ovocalyxin-36 in cultured uterine mucosal cells. Our results indicated that the eggshell quality decreases with aging due to molecular changes in the uterine mucosa affecting the eggshell membrane formation and eggshell biomineralization. Moreover, nitric oxide overproduction may play a role in this dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Elhamouly
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt; Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8528, Japan
| | - T Nii
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8528, Japan
| | - N Isobe
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, 739-8528, Japan
| | - Y Yoshimura
- Hiroshima Study Center, The Open University of Japan, Hiroshima, 730-0053, Japan.
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Hosotani M, Hamano S, Iwasaki T, Hasegawa Y, Ueda H, Watanabe T. Oviduct Histopathology of Internal Laying and Egg-Bound Syndrome in Laying Hens. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10040260. [PMID: 37104415 PMCID: PMC10142957 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10040260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In the egg industry, common reproductive disorders, such as internal laying and egg-bound syndrome, not only reduce egg productivity but also cause deaths in severe cases. In this study, we focused on the oviduct histology of the pathogenesis of internal laying and egg-bound syndrome. We divided the aged laying hens into four groups according to the observation of the abdominal cavity and oviductal lumen: healthy, internal laying, egg-bound, and intercurrent. The percentages of healthy, internal laying, egg-bound, and intercurrent groups were 55%, 17.5%, 15%, and 12.5%, respectively. In all parts of the oviduct (i.e., infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, and uterus), the oviductal epithelium was composed of ciliated epithelial cells and secretory cells. The epithelial region lacking cilia was larger in the entire oviduct of the internal laying, and intercurrent groups than in the healthy group. In the internal laying, egg-bound, and intercurrent groups, significant T-cell infiltration was observed in the lamina propria of the entire oviduct. The morphological alteration of ciliated epithelial cells in the oviducts caused by inflammation may be the underlying cause of the pathogenesis of internal laying and egg-bound syndrome.
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10
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Sinclair-Black M, Garcia RA, Ellestad LE. Physiological regulation of calcium and phosphorus utilization in laying hens. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1112499. [PMID: 36824471 PMCID: PMC9942826 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1112499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Commercial laying hens can produce one egg approximately every 24 h. During this process, regulatory systems that control vitamin D3 metabolism, calcium and phosphorus homeostasis, and intestinal uptake of these minerals work in concert to deliver components required for eggshell calcification and bone mineralization. Commercial production cycles have been extended in recent years to last through 100 weeks of age, and older hens often exhibit an increased prevalence of skeletal fractures and poor eggshell quality. Issues such as these arise, in part, through imbalances that occur in calcium and phosphorus utilization as hens age. As a result, an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that drive calcium and phosphorus uptake and utilization is required to develop solutions to these welfare and economic challenges. This paper reviews factors that influence calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in laying hens, including eggshell formation and development and roles of cortical and medullary bone. Metabolism and actions of vitamin D3 and physiological regulation of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis in key tissues are also discussed. Areas that require further research in avian species, such as the role of fibroblast growth factor 23 in these processes and the metabolism and action of bioactive vitamin D3, are highlighted and the importance of using emerging technologies and establishing in vitro systems to perform functional and mechanistic studies is emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R. Alejandra Garcia
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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11
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Lonicera flos and Cnicus japonicus extracts improved egg quality partly by modulating antioxidant status, inflammatory-related cytokines and shell matrix protein expression of oviduct in laying hens. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102561. [PMID: 36867918 PMCID: PMC10011517 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lonicera flos and Cnicus japonicus extracts (LCE) on the laying performance, egg quality, morphology, antioxidant status, inflammatory-related cytokines, and shell matrix protein expression of oviduct in laying hens. A total of 1,728 Roman Pink laying hens aged 73-wk-old were randomly assigned into 4 groups (18 replicates/group, 24 layers/replicate) fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 300, 500, and 1,000 mg of LCE per kg of diet, respectively. The trial lasted for 11 wk, including 2-wk adjustment period and 9-wk testing period. The results indicated that laying hens fed diets supplemented with LCE linearly increased egg weight, yolk color and shell thickness at wk 78 and albumen height, Haugh unit and shell thickness at wk 83 (P < 0.05). At wk 78, LCE groups linearly affected the hydrogen peroxide content in magnum (P < 0.05) and 300 mg/kg LCE groups had the highest catalase activity in isthmus (P < 0.05). At wk 83, LCE groups linearly reduced (P < 0.05) hydrogen peroxide content in the magnum and isthmus and malondialdehyde content in the uterus whereas increased catalase activity in isthmus (P < 0.05). Furthermore, LCE levels quadratically affected glutathione peroxidase activity in isthmus at wk 83 (P < 0.05). At wk 78, the mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and interferon-γ in isthmus and ovalbumin and ovocleidin-116 in uterus had linear effects in response to LCE levels (P < 0.05) and 1,000 mg/kg LCE group had the lowest mRNA expression of interleukin-6 in magnum (P < 0.05). At wk 83, LCE supplementation linearly decreased the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α in magnum and tumor necrosis factor-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase in uterus (P < 0.05). It is concluded that LCE improved egg quality partly by modulating antioxidant status, inflammatory-related cytokines and shell matrix protein expression of oviduct in laying hens.
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12
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Bello A, Henri J, Viel A, Mochel JP, Poźniak B. Ionophore coccidiostats - disposition kinetics in laying hens and residues transfer to eggs. Poult Sci 2022; 102:102280. [PMID: 36410065 PMCID: PMC9676626 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Poultry production is linked with the use of veterinary medicinal products to manage diseases. Ionophore coccidiostats have been permitted for use as feed additives within the European Union (EU) for the prevention of coccidiosis in various species of poultry with except of laying hens. The presence of chemical residues in eggs is a matter of major concern for consumers' health. Despite such prohibition of use in laying hens, they were identified as the most common non-target poultry species being frequently exposed to these class of coccidiostats. Many factors can influence the presence of residues in eggs. Carryover of these class of coccidiostat feed additives in the feed of laying hens has been identified as the main reason of their occurrence in commercial poultry eggs. The physicochemical properties of individual compounds, the physiology of the laying hen, and the biology of egg formation are believed to govern the residue transfer rate and its distribution between the egg white and yolk compartments. This paper reviews the causes of occurrence of residues of ionophore coccidiostats in eggs within the EU with special emphasis on their disposition kinetics in laying hens, and residue transfer into eggs. Additional effort was made to highlight future modeling perspectives on the potential application of pharmacokinetic modeling in predicting drug residue transfer and its concentration in eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abubakar Bello
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw 50-375, Poland
| | - Jérôme Henri
- ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety), Fougères Laboratory, 35306, Fougères Cedex, France
| | - Alexis Viel
- ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety), Fougères Laboratory, 35306, Fougères Cedex, France
| | - Jonathan Paul Mochel
- SMART Pharmacology, Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Błażej Poźniak
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw 50-375, Poland,Corresponding author:
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13
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Jin J, Zhou Q, Lan F, Li J, Yang N, Sun C. Microbial composition of egg component and its association with hatchability of laying hens. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:943097. [PMID: 36338054 PMCID: PMC9632351 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.943097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The internal quality of eggs is critical for human consumption and embryonic development. However, microorganisms inside eggs have not been thoroughly investigated for their roles in determining the egg's internal quality. Here, a total of 21 hens were selected from more than 1,000 chickens based on their hatching results and were divided into high- and low-hatchability groups. Then, we collected 72 eggs from these 21 hens to obtain egg whites and yolks, including 54 fresh eggs and 18 eggs after 12 days of incubation. We characterized the microbial composition of egg yolks and whites, the microbial change along incubation, and differences in microbial abundance between the high- and low-hatchability groups. The results indicated that egg whites are not sterile. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in egg yolk and white. There was a large difference in the microbial composition between egg whites and yolks, and this difference increased after 12 days of incubation. Egg whites have lower microbial diversity than egg yolks owing to the presence of antibacterial substances such as lysozyme in the egg white. After a 12-day incubation, the microbial diversity decreased in egg whites but increased slightly in egg yolks. Meanwhile, the microbes in egg white can migrate to egg yolk during incubation. Additionally, Genus Muribaculaceae was identified as a biomarker in egg yolks incubated for 12 days and was more often detected in healthy groups. On the contrary, more genus Rothia were found in the fresh egg yolk of the low hatchability groups and was considered to have low virulence. These findings shed light on the composition and differences in microbiota between egg yolks and whites and may open new avenues for studying embryonic development in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Congjiao Sun
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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14
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Chen L, Yang M, Zhu W, Su Y, Li D, Wang T. Multi-Omics Analysis After Vaginal Administration of Bacteroides fragilis in Chickens. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:846011. [PMID: 35250960 PMCID: PMC8888936 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.846011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproductive tract of chickens is an important organ for egg formation. The vagina is in close contact with the external environment, which may lead to the invasion of a variety of pathogenic bacteria, affect the internal and external quality of eggs, and even increase mortality and cause economic loss. In recent years, probiotics as a substitute for antibiotics have brought economic benefits in livestock and poultry production. In the present study, we investigated the effects of vaginal administration of Bacteroides fragilis on the cloacal microbiota, vaginal transcriptome and metabolomics of chickens and evaluated the beneficial potential of B. fragilis. The results showed that B. fragilis treatment could affect the microbial composition of the cloaca. Transcriptome analysis found that the immune-related genes CCN3, HAS2, and RICTOR were upregulated, that the inflammatory genes EDNRB, TOX, and NKX2-3 were downregulated, and that DEGs were also enriched in the regulation of the inflammatory response, cellular metabolism, and synaptic response pathways. In addition, the differential metabolites were mainly related to steroid hormone biosynthesis, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and arachidonic acid metabolism, and we identified associations between specific differential metabolites and genes. Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis for the application of B. fragilis as a potential probiotic in livestock and poultry production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Chen
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Maosen Yang
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Su
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Diyan Li
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
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15
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Muhammad AI, Dalia AM, Loh TC, Akit H, Samsudin AA. Effect of organic and inorganic dietary selenium supplementation on gene expression in oviduct tissues and Selenoproteins gene expression in Lohman Brown-classic laying hens. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:281. [PMID: 34419016 PMCID: PMC8380377 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02964-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The oviduct of a hen provides a conducive environment for egg formation, which needs a large amount of mineral elements from the blood via trans-epithelial permeability. Eggshell is the calcified layer on the outside of an egg that provides protection and is critical for egg quality. However, little is known about the genes or proteins involved in eggshell formation, and their relationship to dietary microminerals. We hypothesized that dietary selenium supplementation in chickens will influence genes involved in eggshell biomineralization, and improve laying hen antioxidant capacity. The objective of this research was to investigate how organic and inorganic dietary selenium supplementation affected mRNA expression of shell gland genes involved in eggshell biomineralization, and selenoproteins gene expression in Lohman Brown-Classic laying hens. Results Shell gland (Uterus) and liver tissue samples were collected from hens during the active growth phase of calcification (15–20 h post-ovulation) for RT-PCR analysis. In the oviduct (shell gland and magnum) and liver of laying hens, the relative expression of functional eggshell and hepatic selenoproteins genes was investigated. Results of qPCR confirmed the higher (p < 0.05) mRNA expression of OC-17 and OC-116 in shell gland of organic Se hen compared to inorganic and basal diet treatments. Similarly, dietary Se treatments affected the mRNA expression of OCX-32 and OCX-36 in the shell gland of laying hens. In the magnum, mRNA expression of OC-17 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in hens fed-bacterial organic, while OC-116 mRNA expression was down-regulated in dietary Se supplemented groups compared to non-Se supplemented hens. Moreover, when compared to sodium selenite, only ADS18 bacterial Se showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher mRNA levels in GPX1, GPX4, DIO1, DIO2 and SELW1, while Se-yeast showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher mRNA levels in TXNRD1 than the non-Se group. Conclusions Dietary Se supplementation especially that from a bacterial organic source, improved shell gland and hepatic selenoproteins gene expression in laying hens, indicating that it could be used as a viable alternative source of Se in laying hens. The findings could suggest that organic Se upregulation of shell gland genes and hepatic selenoproteins in laying hens is efficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- A I Muhammad
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Dutse, P.M.B. 7156, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria
| | - A M Dalia
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 321, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - T C Loh
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - H Akit
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - A A Samsudin
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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16
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Rodríguez-Hernández R, Oviedo-Rondón EO, Rondón-Barragán IS. Identification of reliable reference genes for expression studies in the magnum of laying hens housed in cage and cage-free systems. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:1890-1898. [PMID: 34015187 PMCID: PMC8464264 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress factors during poultry production can evoke changes in gene transcription and protein synthesis in the hen oviduct and could affect the internal and external egg quality. Studies of relative gene expression require the identification of the most stable reference genes for the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to investigate the reproductive tissues' response in laying hens kept in different production systems. The objective of this study was to determine the most stable reference genes of the magnum tissues of laying hens housed in two different production systems. Hy-Line Brown hens were reared under the same sanitary conditions until 15 weeks of age. Later on, they were transferred into two different production systems, conventional cage (CC) and cage free (CF), up to 82 weeks of age. At 50 and 60 weeks, a total of six hens from each production system were euthanized, and magnum samples were collected. The qPCR was used to determine the RNA transcription level of five reference genes, ACTB, 18S, GAPDH, MSX2 and HMBS. These genes were evaluated for transcript expression in magnum tissues by NormFinder, BestKeeper, geNorm and RefFinder software. The results indicated that the most stable gene in the CF housing system was HMBS in three of the algorithms and in the CC housing system was the 18S, and the best combination of reference genes was HMBS/GAPDH in CF and 18S/HMBS in CC. In conclusion, HMBS, 18S and GAPDH genes could be used together as reference genes for the normalization of the magnum tissues transcript expression of hens in CF and CC housing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Rodríguez-Hernández
- Poultry Research Group, College of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University of Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Edgar O Oviedo-Rondón
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Iang S Rondón-Barragán
- Poultry Research Group, College of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University of Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia.,Immunobiology and Pathogenesis Research Group, College of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University of Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia
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17
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Sah N, Kuehu DL, Khadka VS, Deng Y, Jha R, Wasti S, Mishra B. RNA sequencing-based analysis of the magnum tissues revealed the novel genes and biological pathways involved in the egg-white formation in the laying hen. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:318. [PMID: 33932994 PMCID: PMC8088581 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07634-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The mechanism of egg formation in the oviduct of laying hens is tightly controlled; each segment of the oviduct contributes a unique component of the egg. Several genes/proteins are involved in the synthesis of a completely healthy egg. This implies a time- and tissue-specific expression of genes and proteins in the different oviductal segments. We used hens at different physiological stages and time points to understand the transcriptional regulation of egg-white (albumen) synthesis and secretion onto the eggs in the magnum of laying hens. This study used Next-Generation Sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to detect the novel genes and the cognate biological pathways that regulate the major events during the albumen formation. Results Magnum tissues collected from laying (n = 5 each at 3 h post-ovulation, p.o. and 15–20 h p.o.), non-laying (n = 4), and molting (n = 5) hens were used for differential gene expression analyses. A total of 540 genes (152 upregulated and 388 down-regulated) were differentially expressed at 3 h p.o. in the magnum of laying hens. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways analysis of the 152 upregulated genes revealed that glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism was the most-enriched biological pathway. Furthermore, the top two most enriched keywords for the upregulated genes were amino-acid biosynthesis and proteases. Nine candidate genes associated with albumen formation were validated with qPCR to have differential expression in laying, non-laying, and molting hens. Proteases such as TMPRSS9, CAPN2, MMP1, and MMP9 (protein maturation, ECM degradation, and angiogenesis); enzymes such as PSPH, PHGDH, and PSAT1 (amino-acid biosynthesis); RLN3, ACE, and REN (albumen synthesis, secretion and egg transport); and AVD, AvBD11, and GPX3 (antimicrobial and antioxidants) were recognized as essential molecules linked to albumen deposition in the magnum. Conclusions This study revealed some novel genes that participate in the signaling pathways for egg-white synthesis and secretion along with some well-known functional genes. These findings help to understand the mechanisms involved in albumen biosynthesis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07634-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirvay Sah
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI, 96822, Honolulu, USA
| | - Donna Lee Kuehu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Vedbar Singh Khadka
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
| | - Youping Deng
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA
| | - Rajesh Jha
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI, 96822, Honolulu, USA
| | - Sanjeev Wasti
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI, 96822, Honolulu, USA
| | - Birendra Mishra
- Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI, 96822, Honolulu, USA.
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18
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Microbiota continuum along the chicken oviduct and its association with host genetics and egg formation. Poult Sci 2021; 100:101104. [PMID: 34051407 PMCID: PMC8167817 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiota of female reproductive tract have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their effects on host fitness. However, the microbiota throughout the chicken oviduct and its symbiotic relationships with the host have not been well characterized. Here, we characterized the microbial composition of six segments of the reproductive tract, including the infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus, vagina and cloaca, in pedigreed laying hens with phenotypes of egg quality and quantity. We found that the microbial diversity gradually increased along the reproductive tract from the infundibulum to the cloaca, and the microbial communities were distinct among the cloaca, vagina and four other oviductal segments. The magnum exhibited the lowest diversity, given that the lysozyme and other antimicrobial proteins are secreted at this location. The results of correlation estimated showed that the relationship between host genetic kinship and microbial distance was negligible. Additionally, the genetically related pairwise individuals did not exhibit a more similar microbial community than unrelated pairs. Although the egg might be directly contaminated with potential pathogenic bacteria during egg formation and oviposition, some microorganisms provide long-term benefits to the host. Among these, we observed that increased abundance of vaginal Staphylococcus and Ralstonia was significantly associated with darker eggshells. Meanwhile, vaginal Romboutsia could be used as a predictor for egg number. These findings provide insight into the nature of the chicken reproductive tract microbiota and highlight the effect of oviductal bacteria on the process of egg formation.
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Griffith OW. Novel tissue interactions support the evolution of placentation. J Morphol 2021; 282:1047-1053. [PMID: 33433907 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Organ development occurs through the coordinated interaction of distinct tissue types. So, a question at the core of understanding the evolution of new organs is, how do new tissue-tissue signalling networks arise? The placenta is a great model for understanding the evolution of new organs, because placentas have evolved repeatedly, evolved relatively recently in some lineages, and exhibit intermediate forms in extant clades. Placentas, like other organs, form from the interaction of two distinct tissues, one maternal and one fetal. If each of these tissues produces signals that can be received by the other, then the apposition of these tissues is likely to result in new signalling dynamics that can be used as a scaffold to support placenta development. Using published data and examples, in this review I demonstrate that placentas are derived from hormonally active organs, that considerable signalling potential exists between maternal and fetal tissues in egg-laying vertebrates, that this signalling potential is conserved through the oviparity-viviparity transition, and that consequences of these interactions form the basis of derived aspects of placentation including embryo implantation. I argue that the interaction of placental tissues, is not merely a consequence of placenta formation, but that novel interactions form the basis of new placental regulatory networks, functions, and patterning mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver W Griffith
- Department of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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20
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Albumen Quality of Fresh and Stored Table Eggs: Hen Genotype as a Further Chance for Consumer Choice. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010135. [PMID: 33435195 PMCID: PMC7827128 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Consumer interest in food products and their origins is increasing. Knowledge of egg production and quality of purebred hens during the productive period is required for a niche market sustaining and encouraging biodiversity and the peculiarities of the products that consumers can appreciate. Egg production and quality of the eggshell and albumen in fresh and stored eggs of two Italian dual-purpose purebreds (Ermellinata di Rovigo (ER); Robusta maculata (RM)) and two hybrid genotypes (Hy-Line Brown (HB); Hy-Line White (HW)) reared outdoors were compared throughout the laying period. RM breed (brown eggshell) showed fresh and stored eggs with a good eggshell thickness, and Haugh Units (HU) quite stable along the production period; RM total egg mass was lower than ER (light brown eggshell) which showed fresh and stored eggs with more variable HU, due also to a possible effect of lower eggshell thickness and pigmentation, and shape index. The hybrids produced a higher total egg mass than the purebreds and showed an intermediate variation of the egg quality, with HU higher than those of ER and RM only in 1 d eggs, but not in stored eggs. Abstract The quality of fresh (1 d) and stored (7–14–21 d, 21 °C) eggs was studied in Italian dual-purpose breeds (Ermellinata di Rovigo (ER), Robusta maculata (RM)) and hybrids (Hy-Line Brown (HB), Hy-Line White36 (HW)), reared outdoors (4 m2/bird) and fed commercial feed. The eggs were analyzed at 4 ages, throughout different seasonal environmental conditions, from summer (31, 35 weeks; 25 °C) until autumn (39, 43 weeks, 15 °C). Each genotype showed significant (p < 0.01) changes in egg quality. In 1 d eggs, the eggshell thickness changed in RM and HW (quadratic), decreased linearly in ER; Haugh Units (HU) changed (ER–cubic) and decreased (hybrids-linear). In 7 d and 14 d eggs, HU linearly (p < 0.01) decreased, except in RM. In 21 d eggs, HU (ER linear decrease; HB, HW quadratic) changed. Significant negative correlations between albumen pH and height were seen in ER (at 1 d, 14 d, 21 d) and HW (at each storage time) eggs, and in RM and HB only in 1 d eggs. RM showed a quite stable albumen quality and a lower total egg mass than ER which showed a more variable albumen quality, due also to a lower eggshell thickness and shape index. The hybrids produced a higher total egg mass than the purebreds and showed an intermediate variation of the egg quality, with an albumen quality higher than those of ER and RM only in 1 d egg, as a result of a higher albumen weight.
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Zheng J, Bu T, Liu L, He G, Li S, Wu J. Naturally occurring low molecular peptides identified in egg white show antioxidant activity. Food Res Int 2020; 138:109766. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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22
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Wasti S, Sah N, Kuehu DL, Kim YS, Jha R, Mishra B. Expression of follistatin is associated with egg formation in the oviduct of laying hens. Anim Sci J 2020; 91:e13396. [PMID: 32468659 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the expression profiles of follistatin (FST) and its associated molecules (MSTN, INHA, INHBB, INHBA, ACVR2A, and ACVR2B) in the oviduct of laying hens at 3 hr and 20 hr post-ovulation (p.o., n = 5; 35 weeks old), molting (n = 5; 60 weeks old), and non-laying (n = 4; 35-60 weeks old) hens and also to localize the FST by using immunohistochemistry assay. Expression of FST was significantly higher (p < .05), and MSTN was lower in the uterus of laying hens around 15-20 hr p.o. (during eggshell formation), however, their expressions in the magnum remain unchanged across different physiological stages of hens. FST was mainly expressed in the luminal and glandular epithelium of the uterine tissues, and their expression intensity was highest in laying hens during the eggshell mineralization. There was a relatively increased expression of INHA in the magnum of laying hens around 3 hr p.o. as compared to non-laying and molting hens. At the same time (3 hr p.o.), there was a significant (p < .05) decrease in the expression of the INHBB, ACVR2A, and ACV2B. These results indicate that follistatin may regulate the differentiation of uterine luminal and glandular epithelium during eggshell biomineralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Wasti
- Department of Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Nirvay Sah
- Department of Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Donna L Kuehu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Yong S Kim
- Department of Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Rajesh Jha
- Department of Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Birendra Mishra
- Department of Human Nutrition Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
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23
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Luo X, Zheng C, Xia W, Ruan D, Wang S, Cui Y, Yu D, Wu Q, Huang D, Zhang Y, Chen W. Effects of constant or intermittent high temperature on egg production, feed intake, and hypothalamic expression of antioxidant and pro-oxidant enzymes genes in laying ducks. J Anim Sci 2019; 96:5064-5074. [PMID: 30215744 DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat stress is a major environmental factor contributing to lower production of poultry. The objective of present study was to evaluate the influence of constant or intermittent high temperature on the production performance and redox status of plasma and hypothalamus in laying ducks. A total of 288 weight- and laying-matched laying ducks were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (each with 6 replicates of 12 birds): control, pair-fed, constant high temperature (24 h, 34 ± 1°C), and intermittent high temperature (10 h, 34 ± 1°C). Blood and hypothalamic tissue samples were collected on days 1, 21, and 55 to determine redox status. Average daily feed intake and egg weight was reduced (P < 0.001) during imposition of both high-temperature treatments but was not different (P > 0.05) among the treatments during the recovery period. Lower (P < 0.05) egg mass was observed in pair-fed and intermittent high-temperature treatment during high-temperature period and in constant high temperature during the recovery period. Haugh units from high temperature-treated ducks were significantly lower than those from control or pair-fed ducks (P < 0.05) during the high-temperature period. Both models of heat exposure decreased plasma concentrations of glutathione (GSH) at day 1, and constant high temperature decreased plasma activity of GSH peroxidase (GSH-PX) at day 21 (P < 0.05). Hypothalamic expression of antioxidant genes GSH reductase (GR) and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit (Complex Ι) were decreased by both high-temperature treatments at day 1. Hypothalamic expression of genes for pro-oxidant enzymes cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1) were decreased (P < 0.05) by both models of high temperature but transcripts of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) of ducks that were pair-fed or were exposed to constant high temperature were increased at day 21. The transcripts of NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX-1) were decreased at day 1 by both high-temperature treatments (P < 0.05) but increased during the recovery period. These results indicate that, for laying ducks, intermittent high temperature caused much greater negative production performance effects than constant high temperature during high-temperature period, but laying ducks exposed to constant high temperature tend to take longer to recover their production performance. High-temperature stress, either constant or intermittent, altered hypothalamic expression of antioxidation and pro-oxidation genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Luo
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuntian Zheng
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiguang Xia
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong Ruan
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Wang
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiyan Cui
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Deqian Yu
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiwen Wu
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Danhong Huang
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Institute of Animal Science, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Breeding, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Public Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Guangzhou, China
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