Reduction of hepatic lipid deposition in laying hens by dietary selenium-yeast interaction

Effects of Methyl Sulfonyl Methane and Selenium Yeast on Fatty Liver Syndrome in Laying Hens and Their Biological Mechanisms

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of MSM and Se-Y on FLS in laying hens during the late peak laying period and the underlying biological mechanisms. Therefore 240 55-week-old Jing-fen No. 6 laying hens were randomly divided into five groups, with eight replicates in each group and six laying hens in each replicate. The hens were fed a basal diet (Control) and diets supplemented with 350 and 700 mg/kg MSM and 25 and 50 mg/kg Se-Y, respectively, for four weeks. The results showed that MSM and Se-Y had no significant effects on the performance of laying hens. With the increasing dosage of MSM and Se-Y, the symptoms of liver steatosis in laying hens were reduced, and MSM and Se-Y could significantly reduce the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and liver (p < 0.05) and increase the contents of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in serum and liver (p < 0.05). The RNA-seq results showed that 700 mg/kg MSM significantly downregulated the expression levels of the ATP5I, ATP5G1, CYCS, and UQCRQ genes in the liver, and 50 mg/kg Se-Y significantly downregulated the expression levels of MAPK10, SRC, BMP2, and FGF9 genes in the liver. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with MSM and Se-Y can effectively reduce the FLS of laying hens in the late peak laying period and increase their antioxidant capacity. The underlying biological mechanism may be related to the downregulation of genes involved in liver oxidative phosphorylation and inflammation-related pathways.

Calcium and its relationship to excess feed consumption, body weight, egg size, fat deposition, shell quality, and fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome

In Experiment 1, Hyline W36 caged hens were fed diets containing 1.7, 2.9, 3.5, and 4.1% calcium for 10 and 16 weeks. In Experiments 2 and 4, Dekalb XL and Hyline W36 pullets were fed diets containing 1.0, 1.7, and 3.75% calcium for 3 weeks (Exp. 2) or until 25 pullets from each group laid 7 eggs (Exp. 4). In Experiment 3 and 5, Dekalb and Hyline hens were fed diets containing 1.5 (Dekalb only), 1.75, 2.25, 2.75, and 3.75% calcium for 8 weeks. Criteria were liver, fat pad, egg and shell weights, egg specific gravity, production, feed consumption, liver fat and fatty acid composition, liver hemorrhage score, and body weight. As percent dietary calcium decreased, Hyline birds (Exp. 1, 4, and 5) had increased liver fat, body weight (except Exp. 4), and feed consumption, but egg specific gravity and shell weight decreased. Reduced dietary calcium levels had no effect on egg production in Experiment 1 but significantly reduced production in Experiment 5. Liver hemorrhage score significantly increased as percent dietary calcium decreased (Exp. 1). As dietary calcium decreased, Dekalb pullets (Exp. 2) had increased feed consumption, fat pad weight, and liver hemorrhage score. There was no increase in liver fat. However, in Dekalb hens (Exp. 3), feed consumption and egg production were significantly decreased as dietary calcium decreased. It is concluded that overconsumption caused by feeding pullets or hens inadequate calcium had no beneficial effect on egg size or egg production and, depending on strain, increased liver fat, liver hemorrhage score, body weight, and fat pad weight.

The effect of marginal levels of calcium, fish meal, torula yeast and alfalfa meal on feed intake, hepatic lipid accumulation, plasma estradiol, and egg shell quality among laying hens

In two 2 X 3 factorial-design experiments, Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) laying hens were fed either a corn-soy (CS) diet or one containing 5% each of fish meal, alfalfa meal, and torula yeast (FAY), each with 2.0, 2.75, or 3.5% calcium in Experiment 1 and 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5% in Experiment 2. Duration of the experiments were 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Low dietary calcium resulted in decreased efficiency of energy utilization in both experiments and significantly elevated energy consumption in Experiment 2. Liver lipids and body weight were unaffected by dietary calcium level, and declines in both egg production and shell quality were observed in both studies. In Experiment 1, overall plasma estradiol and tibial bone ash were significantly reduced with lowered dietary calcium, but this was not observed in Experiment 2. Egg weight was significantly increased by decreased dietary calcium in Experiment 1. Plasma calcium was not affected by dietary calcium in either trial. Feeding FAY resulted in significantly lower liver lipid than feeding CS in both experiments, and similar but nonsignificant trends were realized for plasma estradiol. Tibial bone ash and egg-breaking strength were significantly higher for hens fed FAY in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, plasma total calcium was lower and the percent shell was higher in hens fed FAY with 3.5% calcium than in hens fed CS with 3.5% calcium. No differences were observed between CS and FAY in feed consumption, body weight, or egg production. These studies indicate that feeding a more complex diet to laying hens may change calcium metabolism and improve shell quality at marginal levels of calcium compared with feeding a simplified CS diet.

Diet composition, environmental temperature, and exogenous estradiol effects on hepatic lipid deposition in growing chicks

The interrelationships among dietary composition, environmental temperature, and level of estradiol (E2) administration on hepatic lipid deposition in chicks were studied. Two levels of E2 were injected at three intervals over a 4-day period, in 3-week-old male Leghorn chicks fed either a corn-soybean meal (CS) diet or a diet containing fish meal (FM) after 2 days fasting. The chicks were subjected to temperature ranges of 15 to 24 C (low) or 24 to 35 C (high) at 2 weeks of age. The E2 (in silastic tubes) was also implanted subcutaneously in 3-week-old broiler chicks fed either the CS diet or a diet containing fish meal, alfalfa meal, and torula yeast (FAY) from day of age to 6 weeks. They were subjected to the high and low temperature ranges at 3 weeks. Liver lipid deposition markedly increased with E2 administration among chicks fed all diets within both temperature ranges. Liver lipid was significantly greater at 24 to 35 C than at 15 to 24 C among estrogenized chicks. Feeding the FM or the FAY diet decreased hepatic lipid accumulation as compared to feeding the CS diet, but the ameliorative effect of the FM diet on hepatic lipid deposition was not observed at the low temperature or at the lower level of implantation. It was concluded that a range for estrogen administration exists wherein dietary effects are expressed. These data indicate that environmental temperature, dietary composition, estrogen level, and their interactions influence hepatic lipid deposition and also suggest that high temperature augments liver response to estrogen.

Effect of diisopropyl 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenemalonate on experimental fatty livers in chicks

The effect of diisopropyl 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenemalonate (NKK-100) on experimental fatty livers was investigated in chicks administered an antithyroid agent plus synthetic estrogen or in estrogenized, starved-refed chicks. NKK-100 was added at levels of 250, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg diet. Liver weight was significantly decreased by administration of NKK-100 at 1500 mg/kg diet in the estrogen-administered chicks. Liver lipid content and liver lipid deposition were significantly and inversely decreased with increasing NKK-100 concentration in the diet in the estrogen administered chicks. Plasma transaminase activity, which was elevated by the estrogen administration, was reduced by the administration of NKK-100. These results suggest that NKK-100 may be of value in preventing fatty livers in poultry.

Laboratory model with chicks for assay of nutritional factors affecting hepatic lipid accumulation in laying hens

A laboratory model with chicks is described that is suggested as an assay for dietary factors affecting liver lipid accumulation in laying hens. The model utilizes growing White Leghorn male chicks injected with estrogen. Diets to be tested were fed ad libitum for 4 days following 2 days starvation. Liver lipid deposition was increased with increasing level of estradiol injected. Lipid deposition in livers of estrogenized chicks fed a diet containing fish meal, alfalfa meal, and torula yeast (FAY) was significantly less than that in chicks fed a corn-soybean meal (CS) diet. This correlated with a similar response in laying hens fed ad libitum FAY and CS diets for 30 days, suggesting the response of livers to dietary changes in fasted-refed-estrogenized chicks reflects the responses obtained with laying hens. Using the proposed laboratory model, fish meal, distillers dried grains with solubles, and alfalfa meal were shown to contain activity that reduced liver lipid deposition.

Influence of Protamone on fatty liver syndrome in commercial laying hens

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of Protamone on fatty liver syndrome in commercial laying hens. The addition of either 110 or 220 mg of protamone per kilogram of diet significantly lowered liver fat and also significantly reduced body weight. From histological examination of livers of hens fed Protamone it was found that the hepatocytes contained little or no lipid, whereas hepatocytes of hens fed the control diet were turgid with lipid. The addition of Protamone to the diet resulted in a significant reduction in egg production without effecting feed efficiency in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, egg production was significantly reduced and feed efficiency improved during Days 1 to 28. However, feed efficiency was poorer during Days 29 to 56 for hens receiving the Protamone.