Effect of inositol and phytases on hematological indices and α-1 acid glycoprotein levels in laying hens fed phosphorus-deficient corn-soybean meal-based diets

Phytase dose-dependent response of kidney inositol phosphate levels in poultry

Phytases, enzymes that degrade phytate present in feedstuffs, are widely added to the diets of monogastric animals. Many studies have correlated phytase addition with improved animal productivity and a subset of these have sought to correlate animal performance with phytase-mediated generation of inositol phosphates in different parts of the gastro-intestinal tract or with release of inositol or of phosphate, the absorbable products of phytate degradation. Remarkably, the effect of dietary phytase on tissue inositol phosphates has not been studied. The objective of this study was to determine effect of phytase supplementation on liver and kidney myo-inositol and myo-inositol phosphates in broiler chickens. For this, methods were developed to measure inositol phosphates in chicken tissues. The study comprised wheat/soy-based diets containing one of three levels of phytase (0, 500 and 6,000 FTU/kg of modified E. coli 6-phytase). Diets were provided to broilers for 21 D and on day 21 digesta were collected from the gizzard and ileum. Liver and kidney tissue were harvested. Myo-inositol and inositol phosphates were measured in diet, digesta, liver and kidney. Gizzard and ileal content inositol was increased progressively, and total inositol phosphates reduced progressively, by phytase supplementation. The predominant higher inositol phosphates detected in tissues, D-and/or L-Ins(3,4,5,6)P4 and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5, differed from those (D-and/or L-Ins(1,2,3,4)P4, D-and/or L-Ins(1,2,5,6)P4, Ins(1,2,3,4,6)P5, D-and/or L-Ins(1,2,3,4,5)P5 and D-and/or L-Ins(1,2,4,5,6)P5) generated from phytate (InsP6) degradation by E. coli 6-phytase or endogenous feed phytase, suggesting tissue inositol phosphates are not the result of direct absorption. Kidney inositol phosphates were reduced progressively by phytase supplementation. These data suggest that tissue inositol phosphate concentrations can be influenced by dietary phytase inclusion rate and that such effects are tissue specific, though the consequences for physiology of such changes have yet to be elucidated.

Royal Jelly Improves the Morphology of the Reproductive Tract, Internal Egg Quality, and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Laying Hens at the Late Stage of Production

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of royal jelly (RJ) on the morphology of the reproductive tract, egg production, and blood biochemical indices of aged laying hens. In total, 120 Lohman Brown laying hens at week 58 of age were randomly assigned into three equal groups. Pure RJ was dissolved in distilled water and injected subcutaneously as follows: the first treatment (R₁; 100 mg RJ kg^-1); the second treatment (R₂; 200 mg RJ kg^-1); the control treatment (CON; 1 mL distilled water). Both RJ-treated groups exhibited a significantly higher number of large yellow follicles (LYFs), small yellow follicles (SYFs), and large white follicles (LWFs) (p ˂ 0.05). Furthermore, RJ treatment significantly increased the diameter and weight of the F1 follicles. However, only the R2 group exhibited significantly greater ovary and uterus weights. RJ treatment did not affect the percentage of oviduct and weight of ovarian stroma. In addition, RJ increased the hen-day egg production rate compared with the CON group; however, only the R₂ group showed greater egg weight (p = 0.032). RJ treatment also improved the albumen height, Haugh units, and yolk index. The administration of RJ significantly decreased the serum glucose, but increased the levels of serum albumen and cholesterol. In conclusion, RJ treatment may improve the morphology of the reproductive tract (including follicular growth and oviduct morphology), egg production rate, and internal egg quality traits of aged laying hens.

The Impact of Phytases on the Release of Bioactive Inositols, the Profile of Inositol Phosphates, and the Release of Selected Minerals in the Technology of Buckwheat Beer Production

A relatively high concentration of phytate in buckwheat malt, and the low activity of endogenous buckwheat phytases, both of which limit the effective use of substrates (starch, proteins, minerals) for fermentation and yeast metabolism, gives rise to the potential for application of phytases in beer production. This study aims at obtaining a 100% buckwheat wort with high bioactive cyclitols (myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol) concentrations released by exogenous phytases and acid phosphatases. Two mashing programs were used in the study, i.e., (1) typical for basic raw materials, namely the well-established Congress method, and (2) optimized for phytase activity. The results indicated a nearly 50% increase in the level of bioactive myo-inositol and an 80% degradation of phytate in the wort as a result of simultaneous application of phytase and phosphatase enzymes in the mashing of buckwheat malt. In addition, high D-chiro-inositol concentrations were released from malt to the buckwheat wort. The concerted action of the two phytases significantly increased (19–44%) Zn²⁺ concentrations in wort. This may be of great importance during mash fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts. There is a potential to develop technology for buckwheat beer production, which, in addition to being free from gluten, comprises high levels of bioactive myo- and D-chiro-inositols.

Myo-inositol: its metabolism and potential implications for poultry nutrition-a review

Myo-inositol (MI) has gained relevance in physiology research during the last decade. As a constituent of animal cells, MI was proven to be crucial in several metabolic and regulatory processes. Myo-inositol is involved in lipid signaling, osmolarity, glucose, and insulin metabolism. In humans and rodents, dietary MI was assessed to be important for health so that MI supplementation appeared to be a valuable alternative for treatment of several diseases as well as for improvements in metabolic performance. In poultry, there is a lack of evidence not only related to specific species-linked metabolic processes but also about the effects of dietary MI on performance and health. This review intends to provide information about the meaning of dietary MI in animal metabolism as well as to discuss potential implications of dietary MI in poultry health and performance with the aim to identify open questions in poultry research.