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Huang C, Hao E, Yue Q, Liu M, Wang D, Chen Y, Shi L, Zeng D, Zhao G, Chen H. Malfunctioned inflammatory response and serotonin metabolism at the microbiota-gut-brain axis drive feather pecking behavior in laying hens. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102686. [PMID: 37327743 PMCID: PMC10404692 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102686] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Feather pecking (FP) is a multifactorial abnormal behavior in laying hens where they display harmful pecks in conspecifics. FP has been associated with the altered functioning of the microbiome-gut-brain axis affecting host emotions and social behavior. The altered levels of serotonin (5-HT), a key monoaminergic neurotransmitter at both terminals of the gut-brain axis, affect the development of abnormal behavior, such as FP in laying hens. However, the underlying mechanism involving reciprocal interactions along the microbiota-gut-brain axis, particularly about the metabolism of 5-HT, remains unclear in FP phenotypes. This study examined the microbiota diversity, intestinal microbial metabolites, inflammatory responses, and 5-HT metabolism in divergently selected high (HFP; n = 8) and low (LFP; n = 8) FP hens to investigate the possible interconnections between FP behavior and the examined parameters. The 16S rRNA analysis revealed that compared to LFP birds, the gut microbiota of HFP birds exhibited a decrease in the abundance of phylum Firmicutes and genera Lactobacillus, while an increase in the abundance of phylum Proteobacteria and genera Escherichia Shigella and Desulfovibrio. Furthermore, the intestinal differential metabolites associated with FP phenotypes were mainly enriched in the tryptophan metabolic pathway. HFP birds had higher tryptophan metabolites and possibly a more responsive immune system compared to the LFP birds. This was indirectly supported by altered TNF-α levels in the serum and expression of inflammatory factor in the gut and brain. Moreover, HFP birds had lower serum levels of tryptophan and 5-HT compared to LFP birds, which was consistent with the downregulation of 5-HT metabolism-related genes in the brain of HFP birds. The correlation analysis revealed that genera Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio were associated with differences in intestinal metabolites, 5-HT metabolism, and inflammatory response between the LFP and HFP birds. In conclusion, differences in the cecal microbiota profile, immune response and 5-HT metabolism drive FP phenotypes, which could be associated with the gut abundance of genera Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxuan Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China
| | - Erying Hao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China
| | - Qiaoxian Yue
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China
| | - Meng Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China
| | - Dehe Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China
| | - Yifan Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China
| | - Lei Shi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China
| | - Dan Zeng
- Hua Yu Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Handan, Hebei 057150, China
| | - Guoxian Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China
| | - Hui Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei 071001, China.
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Favole A, Testori C, Bergagna S, Gennero MS, Ingravalle F, Costa B, Barresi S, Curti P, Barberis F, Ganio S, Orusa R, Vallino Costassa E, Berrone E, Vernè M, Scaglia M, Palmitessa C, Gallo M, Tessarolo C, Pederiva S, Ferrari A, Lorenzi V, Fusi F, Brunelli L, Pastorelli R, Cagnotti G, Casalone C, Caramelli M, Corona C. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Kynurenine Pathway, and Lipid-Profiling Alterations as Potential Animal Welfare Indicators in Dairy Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13071167. [PMID: 37048423 PMCID: PMC10093196 DOI: 10.3390/ani13071167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Complete animal welfare evaluation in intensive farming is challenging. With this study, we investigate new biomarkers for animal physical and mental health by comparing plasma expression of biochemical indicators in dairy cows reared in three different systems: (A) semi-intensive free-stall, (B) non-intensive tie-stall, and (C) intensive free-stall. Additionally, protein levels of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) and its precursor form (proBDNF) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) specific activity were evaluated in brain samples collected from 12 cattle culled between 73 and 138 months of age. Alterations in plasma lipid composition and in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism were observed in the tie-stall-reared animals. The total plasma BDNF concentration was higher in tie-stall group compared to the two free-housing groups. Brain analysis of the tie-stall animals revealed a different mBDNF/proBDNF ratio, with a higher level of proBDNF (p < 0.001). Our data are similar to previous studies on animal models of depression, which reported that inhibition of the conversion of proBDNF in its mature form and/or elevated peripheral kynurenine pathway activation may underlie cerebral biochemical changes and induce depressive-like state behavior in animals.
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Kanakachari M, Ashwini R, Chatterjee RN, Bhattacharya TK. Embryonic transcriptome unravels mechanisms and pathways underlying embryonic development with respect to muscle growth, egg production, and plumage formation in native and broiler chickens. Front Genet 2022; 13:990849. [PMID: 36313432 PMCID: PMC9616467 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.990849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Muscle development, egg production, and plumage colors are different between native and broiler chickens. The study was designed to investigate why improved Aseel (PD4) is colorful, stronger, and grew slowly compared with the control broiler (CB). Methods: A microarray was conducted using the 7th-day embryo (7EB) and 18th-day thigh muscle (18TM) of improved Aseel and broiler, respectively. Also, we have selected 24 Gallus gallus candidate reference genes from NCBI, and total RNA was isolated from the broiler, improved Aseel embryo tissues, and their expression profiles were studied by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Furthermore, microarray data were validated with qPCR using improved Aseel and broiler embryo tissues. Results: In the differential transcripts screening, all the transcripts obtained by microarray of slow and fast growth groups were screened by fold change ≥ 1 and false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 0.05. In total, 8,069 transcripts were differentially expressed between the 7EB and 18TM of PD4 compared to the CB. A further analysis showed that a high number of transcripts are differentially regulated in the 7EB of PD4 (6,896) and fewer transcripts are differentially regulated (1,173) in the 18TM of PD4 compared to the CB. On the 7th- and 18th-day PD4 embryos, 3,890, 3,006, 745, and 428 transcripts were up- and downregulated, respectively. The commonly up- and downregulated transcripts are 91 and 44 between the 7th- and 18th-day of embryos. In addition, the best housekeeping gene was identified. Furthermore, we validated the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to muscle growth, myostatin signaling and development, and fatty acid metabolism genes in PD4 and CB embryo tissues by qPCR, and the results correlated with microarray expression data. Conclusion: Our study identified DEGs that regulate the myostatin signaling and differentiation pathway; glycolysis and gluconeogenesis; fatty acid metabolism; Jak-STAT, mTOR, and TGF-β signaling pathways; tryptophan metabolism; and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways in PD4. The results revealed that the gene expression architecture is present in the improved Aseel exhibiting embryo growth that will help improve muscle development, differentiation, egg production, protein synthesis, and plumage formation in PD4 native chickens. Our findings may be used as a model for improving the growth in Aseel as well as optimizing the growth in the broiler.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Kanakachari
- ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad, India
- EVA.4 Unit, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - R. Ashwini
- ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - T. K. Bhattacharya
- ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad, India
- *Correspondence: T. K. Bhattacharya,
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An Emerging Cross-Species Marker for Organismal Health: Tryptophan-Kynurenine Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116300. [PMID: 35682980 PMCID: PMC9181223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan (TRP) is an essential dietary amino acid that, unless otherwise committed to protein synthesis, undergoes metabolism via the Tryptophan-Kynurenine (TRP-KYN) pathway in vertebrate organisms. TRP and its metabolites have key roles in diverse physiological processes including cell growth and maintenance, immunity, disease states and the coordination of adaptive responses to environmental and dietary cues. Changes in TRP metabolism can alter the availability of TRP for protein and serotonin biosynthesis as well as alter levels of the immune-active KYN pathway metabolites. There is now considerable evidence which has shown that the TRP-KYN pathway can be influenced by various stressors including glucocorticoids (marker of chronic stress), infection, inflammation and oxidative stress, and environmental toxicants. While there is little known regarding the role of TRP metabolism following exposure to environmental contaminants, there is evidence of linkages between chemically induced metabolic perturbations and altered TRP enzymes and KYN metabolites. Moreover, the TRP-KYN pathway is conserved across vertebrate species and can be influenced by exposure to xenobiotics, therefore, understanding how this pathway is regulated may have broader implications for environmental and wildlife toxicology. The goal of this narrative review is to (1) identify key pathways affecting Trp-Kyn metabolism in vertebrates and (2) highlight consequences of altered tryptophan metabolism in mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish. We discuss current literature available across species, highlight gaps in the current state of knowledge, and further postulate that the kynurenine to tryptophan ratio can be used as a novel biomarker for assessing organismal and, more broadly, ecosystem health.
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Amevor FK, Cui Z, Du X, Feng J, Shu G, Ning Z, Xu D, Deng X, Song W, Wu Y, Cao X, Wei S, He J, Kong F, Du X, Tian Y, Karikari B, Li D, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Zhu Q, Zhao X. Synergy of Dietary Quercetin and Vitamin E Improves Cecal Microbiota and Its Metabolite Profile in Aged Breeder Hens. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:851459. [PMID: 35656004 PMCID: PMC9152675 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.851459] [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: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the synergistic effects of quercetin (Q) and vitamin E (E) on cecal microbiota composition and function, as well as the microbial metabolic profile in aged breeder hens were investigated. A total of 400 (65 weeks old) Tianfu breeder hens were randomly allotted to four experimental groups (four replicates per group). The birds were fed diets containing quercetin at 0.4 g/kg, vitamin E (0.2 g/kg), quercetin and vitamin E (QE; 0.4 g/kg and 0.2 g/kg), and a basal diet for a period of 10 wks. After the 10 week experimental period, the cecal contents of 8 aged breeder hens per group were sampled aseptically and subjected to high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis. The results showed that the relative abundances of phyla Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota were the most prominent among all the dietary groups. Compared to the control group, the relative abundance of the families Bifidobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Tannerellaceae, Mathonobacteriaceae, Barnesiellaceae, and Prevotellaceae were enriched in the QE group; and Bacteroidaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Peptotostretococcaceae, and Fusobacteriaceae were enriched in the Q group, whereas those of Lactobacillaceae, Veillonellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Akkermansiaceae, and Rikenellaceae were enriched in the E group compared to the control group. Untargeted metabolomics analyses revealed that Q, E, and QE modified the abundance of several metabolites in prominent pathways including ubiquinone and other terpenoid–quinone biosynthesis, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, insulin secretion, pancreatic secretion, nicotine addiction, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450. Furthermore, key cecal microbiota, significantly correlated with important metabolites, for example, (S)-equol positively correlated with Alistipes and Chlamydia in E_vs_C, and negatively correlated with Olsenella, Paraprevotella, and Mucispirillum but, a contrary trend was observed with Parabacteroides in QE_vs_C. This study establishes that the synergy of quercetin and vitamin E alters the cecal microbial composition and metabolite profile in aged breeder hens, which lays a foundation for chicken improvement programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Kwame Amevor
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhifu Cui
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaxia Du
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Feng
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
| | - Gang Shu
- Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zifan Ning
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dan Xu
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xun Deng
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weizhen Song
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Youhao Wu
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueqing Cao
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuo Wei
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan He
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fanli Kong
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China
| | - Xiaohui Du
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yaofu Tian
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Benjamin Karikari
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetics and Breeding for Soybean, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Diyan Li
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhao
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Mindus C, van Staaveren N, Fuchs D, Gostner JM, Kjaer JB, Kunze W, Mian MF, Shoveller AK, Forsythe P, Harlander-Matauschek A. Regulatory T Cell Modulation by Lactobacillus rhamnosus Improves Feather Damage in Chickens. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:855261. [PMID: 35478602 PMCID: PMC9036099 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.855261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It is currently unclear whether potential probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria could affect behavioral problems in birds. To this end, we assessed whether a supplementation of Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1 can reduce stress-induced severe feather pecking (SFP), feather damage and fearfulness in adult birds kept for egg laying. In parallel, we assessed SFP genotypic and phenotypic-related immune responses and aromatic amino acid status linked to neurotransmitter production. Social stress aggravated plumage damage, while L. rhamnosus treatment improved the birds' feather cover in non-stressed birds, but did not impact fearfulness. Our data demonstrate the significant impact of L. rhamnosus supplementation on the immune system. L. rhamnosus supplementation induced immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and cytotoxic T cells in both the cecal tonsils and the spleen. Birds exhibiting the SFP phenotype possessed lower levels of cecal tonsils regulatory T cells, splenic T helper cells and a lower TRP:(PHE+TYR). Together, these results suggest that bacteria may have beneficial effects on the avian immune response and may be useful therapeutic adjuncts to counteract SFP and plumage damage, thus increasing animal health and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Mindus
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nienke van Staaveren
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- Biocenter, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johanna M. Gostner
- Biocenter, Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Joergen B. Kjaer
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Celle, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kunze
- Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph's Healthcare, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - M. Firoz Mian
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Anna K. Shoveller
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Paul Forsythe
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek
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Leishman EM, van Staaveren N, Osborne VR, Wood BJ, Baes CF, Harlander-Matauschek A. The Prevalence of Integument Injuries and Associated Risk Factors Among Canadian Turkeys. Front Vet Sci 2022; 8:757776. [PMID: 35071378 PMCID: PMC8777054 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.757776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Injurious pecking can cause a wide range of damage and is an important welfare and economic issue in turkey production. Aggressive pecking typically targets the head/neck (HN) area, and feather pecking typically targets the back/tail (BT) area; injuries in these separate areas could be used as a proxy for the level of aggressive and feather pecking in a flock. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for integument injuries in Canadian turkey flocks. A survey containing a questionnaire about housing and management practices and a scoring guide was distributed to 500 turkey farmers across Canada. The farmer scored pecking injuries in two different body areas (HN and BT) on a 0-2 scale on a subset of birds within each flock. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with the presence of HN and BT injuries. The prevalence of birds with integument injuries ranged widely between the flock subsets (HN = 0-40%, BT = 0-97%), however the mean prevalence was low (HN = 6%, BT = 10%). The presence of injuries for logistic regression was defined as flocks with an injury prevalence greater than the median level of injury prevalence in the dataset (3.3% HN and 6.6% BT). The final logistic regression model for HN injuries contained five variables: flock sex, flock age, number of daily inspections, number of different people during inspections, and picking up birds during inspections (N = 62, pR2 = 0.23, α = 0.05). The final logistic regression model for BT injuries contained six variables: flock sex, flock age, litter depth, litter condition, inspection duration, and use of hospital pens for sick/injured birds (N = 59, pR2 = 0.29, α = 0.05). Flock age, and to a lesser extent, sex was associated with both types of injuries. From a management perspective, aggressive pecking injuries appear to be influenced by variables related to human interaction, namely during inspections. On the other hand, the presence of feather pecking injuries, was associated with litter condition and other management factors like separating sick birds. Future research on injurious pecking in turkeys should focus on these aspects of housing and management to better describe the relationship between the identified variables and the prevalence and severity of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M. Leishman
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nienke van Staaveren
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Animal Biosciences, The Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Vern R. Osborne
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Animal Biosciences, The Centre for Nutrition Modelling, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Benjamin J. Wood
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Hybrid Turkeys, Kitchener, ON, Canada
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Christine F. Baes
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Genetics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek
- Department of Animal Biosciences, The Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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Mindus C, van Staaveren N, Fuchs D, Gostner JM, Kjaer JB, Kunze W, Mian MF, Shoveller AK, Forsythe P, Harlander-Matauschek A. L. rhamnosus improves the immune response and tryptophan catabolism in laying hen pullets. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19538. [PMID: 34599202 PMCID: PMC8486881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98459-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: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, early-life probiotic supplementation is a promising tool for preventing unfavourable, gut microbiome-related behavioural, immunological, and aromatic amino acid alterations later in life. In laying hens, feather-pecking behaviour is proposed to be a consequence of gut-brain axis dysregulation. Lactobacillus rhamnosus decreases stress-induced severe feather pecking in adult hens, but whether its effect in pullets is more robust is unknown. Consequently, we investigated whether early-life, oral supplementation with a single Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain can prevent stress-induced feather-pecking behaviour in chickens. To this end, we monitored both the short- and long-term effects of the probiotic supplement on behaviour and related physiological parameters. We hypothesized that L. rhamnosus would reduce pecking behaviour by modulating the biological pathways associated with this detrimental behaviour, namely aromatic amino acid turnover linked to neurotransmitter production and stress-related immune responses. We report that stress decreased the proportion of cytotoxic T cells in the tonsils (P = 0.047). Counteracting this T cell depression, birds receiving the L. rhamnosus supplementation significantly increased all T lymphocyte subset proportions (P < 0.05). Both phenotypic and genotypic feather peckers had lower plasma tryptophan concentrations compared to their non-pecking counterparts. The probiotic supplement caused a short-term increase in plasma tryptophan (P < 0.001) and the TRP:(PHE + TYR) ratio (P < 0.001). The administration of stressors did not significantly increase feather pecking in pullets, an observation consistent with the age-dependent onset of pecking behaviour. Despite minimal changes to behaviour, our data demonstrate the impact of L. rhamnosus supplementation on the immune system and the turnover of the serotonin precursor tryptophan. Our findings indicate that L. rhamnosus exerts a transient, beneficial effect on the immune response and tryptophan catabolism in pullets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Mindus
- grid.34429.380000 0004 1936 8198Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Nienke van Staaveren
- grid.34429.380000 0004 1936 8198Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- grid.5361.10000 0000 8853 2677Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johanna M. Gostner
- grid.5361.10000 0000 8853 2677Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Joergen B. Kjaer
- grid.417834.dInstitute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Celle, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kunze
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - M. Firoz Mian
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6 Canada
| | - Anna K. Shoveller
- grid.34429.380000 0004 1936 8198Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Paul Forsythe
- grid.25073.330000 0004 1936 8227Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6 Canada
| | - Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek
- grid.34429.380000 0004 1936 8198Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
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Linh NT, Guntoro B, Hoang Qui N. Immunomodulatory, behavioral, and nutritional response of tryptophan application on poultry. Vet World 2021; 14:2244-2250. [PMID: 34566345 PMCID: PMC8448653 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2244-2250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid for all animals that was discovered through casein hydrolysis. The use of tryptophan as feed additives has been attracting the attention of many nutritionists because it cannot be synthesized enough in an animal’s body. Tryptophan or precursor to the vitamin niacin in the diet is important, and its supplementation for poultry is determined to improve the amino acid balance and promote the poultry’s growth performance through enhancing appetite, feed efficiency, and protein synthesis. Moreover, poultry in different growth phases, breeding, and conditions require various amounts of tryptophan. In addition, supplemented tryptophan also improves the immune response or the immunomodulatory activity of poultry to various diseases through the kynurenine pathway, especially diseases in the bursa. Furthermore, tryptophan also has a strong relationship with lysine (the ideal tryptophan/lysine ratio) in improving growth performance. However, tryptophan deficiency could affect the behavioral responses (e.g. pecking behavior and poultry stress) because tryptophan serves as a precursor for the neurotransmitter serotonin and the pineal hormone melatonin in the diet. This paper tried to summarize all information about applying tryptophan in the diets and illustrate the roles of tryptophan in the poultry industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Thuy Linh
- Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, School of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City, Vietnam
| | - Budi Guntoro
- Department of Livestock Social Economics, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Nguyen Hoang Qui
- Department of Livestock Social Economics, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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10
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Mindus C, van Staaveren N, Bharwani A, Fuchs D, Gostner JM, Kjaer JB, Kunze W, Mian MF, Shoveller AK, Forsythe P, Harlander-Matauschek A. Ingestion of Lactobacillus rhamnosus modulates chronic stress-induced feather pecking in chickens. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17119. [PMID: 34429482 PMCID: PMC8384842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96615-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Feather pecking (FP) is a stress-induced neuropsychological disorder of birds. Intestinal dysbiosis and inflammation are common traits of these disorders. FP is, therefore, proposed to be a behavioral consequence of dysregulated communication between the gut and the brain. Probiotic bacteria are known to favorably modulate the gut microbiome and hence the neurochemical and immune components of the gut-brain axis. Consequently, probiotic supplementation represents a promising new therapeutic to mitigate widespread FP in domestic chickens. We monitored FP, gut microbiota composition, immune markers, and amino acids related to the production of neurochemicals in chickens supplemented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus or a placebo. Data demonstrate that, when stressed, the incidence of FP increased significantly; however, L. rhamnosus prevented this increase. L. rhamnosus supplementation showed a strong immunological effect by increasing the regulatory T cell population of the spleen and the cecal tonsils, in addition to limiting cecal microbiota dysbiosis. Despite minimal changes in aromatic amino acid levels, data suggest that catecholaminergic circuits may be an interesting target for further studies. Overall, our findings provide the first data supporting the use of a single-strain probiotic to reduce stress-induced FP in chickens and promise to improve domestic birds' welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Mindus
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Nienke van Staaveren
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Aadil Bharwani
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johanna M Gostner
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Joergen B Kjaer
- Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Celle, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kunze
- Brain-Body Institute, St. Joseph's Healthcare, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - M Firoz Mian
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada
| | - Anna K Shoveller
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Paul Forsythe
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada
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11
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Zhao R, Zuo Q, Yuan X, Jin K, Jin J, Ding Y, Zhang C, Li T, Jiang J, Li J, Zhang M, Shi X, Sun H, Zhang Y, Xu Q, Chang G, Zhao Z, Li B, Wu X, Zhang Y, Song J, Chen G, Li B. Production of viable chicken by allogeneic transplantation of primordial germ cells induced from somatic cells. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2989. [PMID: 34017000 PMCID: PMC8138025 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23242-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The allogeneic transplantation of primordial germ cells (PGCs) derived from somatic cells overcomes the limitation of avian cloning. Here, we transdifferentiate chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) from black feathered Langshan chickens to PGCs and transplant them into White Plymouth Rock chicken embryos to produce viable offspring with characteristics inherited from the donor. We express Oct4/Sox2/Nanog/Lin28A (OSNL) to reprogram CEFs to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are further induced to differentiate into PGCs by BMP4/BMP8b/EGF. DNA demethylation, histone acetylation and glycolytic activation elevate the iPSC induction efficiency, while histone acetylation and glycolytic inhibition facilitate PGCs formation. The induced PGCs (iPGCs) are transplanted into the recipients, which are self-crossed to produce 189/509 somatic cells derived chicken with the donor's characteristics. Microsatellite analysis and genome sequencing confirm the inheritance of genetic information from the donor. Thus, we demonstrate the feasibility of avian cloning from somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifeng Zhao
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qisheng Zuo
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xia Yuan
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kai Jin
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jing Jin
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ying Ding
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Li
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jingyi Jiang
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiancheng Li
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Shi
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hongyan Sun
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yani Zhang
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qi Xu
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guobin Chang
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhenhua Zhao
- grid.469552.90000 0004 1755 0324The Poultry Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou, China
| | - Bing Li
- grid.469552.90000 0004 1755 0324The Poultry Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xinsheng Wu
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiuzhou Song
- grid.164295.d0000 0001 0941 7177Department of Animal & Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD USA
| | - Guohong Chen
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Bichun Li
- grid.268415.cKey Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China ,grid.268415.cJoint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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12
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Yıldırım A, Kraimi N, Constantin P, Mercerand F, Leterrier C. Effects of tryptophan and probiotic supplementation on growth and behavior in quail. Poult Sci 2020; 99:5206-5213. [PMID: 33142436 PMCID: PMC7647826 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In laying hens, a diet supplemented with tryptophan (Trp) has been shown to affect their pecking behavior. However, unlike this positive effect, Trp is also involved in negative effects on behavior and stress through indolic pathways. Indole production can be reduced by probiotics (Pro), thus we hypothesized that Pro may prevent negative effects of Trp and increase beneficial effects on behavior in birds. Combined effects of Pro and Trp were also expected. To investigate the effects on behavior in birds of supplementing with a high level of Trp with or without Pro, Japanese quail were used because their behavior can be influenced by Pediococcus acidilactici, and they can be highly aggressive. Quails (n = 120) were assigned to 4 groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design for 55 d: C-C (control diet with usual Trp level, 0.3%; without Pro; n = 30), Trp-C (Trp: 2%; without Pro; n = 30), C-Pro (control diet; with Pro: 1 x 109 CFU/L P. acidilactici in drinking water; n = 30), and Trp-Pro (Trp 2%; with Pro; n = 30). Body weight was measured every week, and different tests were conducted to investigate behavioral characteristics of each quail. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was almost no interaction between Trp and Pro treatments. Tryptophan supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) reduced live weight up to 27 d, whereas Pro treatment had no effect. There was no significant difference between groups for tonic immobility variables (P > 0.05). The birds fed the high Trp diet spent significantly less time in the periphery of the open field than those fed the control diet and moved less in the arena during the social isolation test. Interindividual distances were significantly lower in males fed with Trp 2% than with the control diet, whereas Trp and Pro supplements interacted in females. The treatments did not affect sexual motivation in males. These results indicate that a high level of Trp reduced growth and appeared to enhance emotional reactivity in quails and that supplementing with Pro did not reduce these effects. In conclusion, feeding high Trp for 55 d cannot be recommended as a strategy to improve social behavior unlike effects observed in laying hens.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Yıldırım
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, 60000 Tokat, Turkey
| | - N Kraimi
- UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Center Val de Loire, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - P Constantin
- UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Center Val de Loire, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - F Mercerand
- UE PEAT, INRAE, Center Val de Loire, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - C Leterrier
- UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Center Val de Loire, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
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13
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Cecal motility and the impact of Lactobacillus in feather pecking laying hens. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12978. [PMID: 32737381 PMCID: PMC7395806 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69928-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut-microbiota-brain axis is implicated in the development of behavioural disorders in mammals. As such, its potential role in disruptive feather pecking (FP) in birds cannot be ignored. Birds with a higher propensity to perform FP have distinct microbiota profiles and feed transit times compared to non-pecking counterparts. Consequently, we hypothesize that the gut microbiota is intimately linked to FP and gut motility, which presents the possibility of using probiotics to control FP behaviour. In the present study, we aim to assess the relationship between cecal motility and the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus in chickens classified as peckers (P, 13 birds) and non-peckers (NP, 17 birds). We show that cecal contractions were 68% less frequent and their amplitude increased by 58% in the presence of L. rhamnosus. Furthermore, the number of FP bouts performed by P birds was positively correlated with contraction velocity and amplitude. We present the first account of gut motility measurements in birds with distinct FP phenotypes. Importantly, the present work demonstrates the clear impact of a probiotic on cecal contractions. These findings lay the foundation for identifying biological differences between P and NP birds which will support the development of FP control strategies.
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Chickens selected for feather pecking can inhibit prepotent motor responses in a Go/No-Go task. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6485. [PMID: 32300207 PMCID: PMC7162881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63618-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Repetitive feather pecking (FP) where birds peck and pull out feathers of conspecifics could reflect motor impulsivity through a lack of behavioural inhibition. We assessed motor impulsivity in female chickens (n = 20) during a Go/No-Go task where birds had to peck (Go) or inhibit pecks (No-Go) appropriately to obtain a food reward, depending on visual cues in an operant chamber. Birds were selected to show divergent FP performance based on their genotype (high predisposition for FP or unselected control line) and phenotype (peckers or non-peckers). Genotype, phenotype, and its interaction did not affect the number of pre-cue responses, percentage of responses during No-Go cues (false alarms), or efficiency (number of rewards over number of responses). We present the first documentation of a Go/No-Go task to measure the ability of birds genetically and phenotypically selected for FP activity to inhibit a prepotent motor response. Results indicate that the repetitive motor action of FP does not reflect impulsivity and is not genetically linked to a lack of behavioural inhibition as measured in a Go/No-Go task.
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Transcriptome analysis reveals differentially expressed genes associated with high rates of egg production in chicken hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5976. [PMID: 32249807 PMCID: PMC7136225 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62886-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis regulates the breeding process cycle of laying hens. However, the key regulatory genes of the HPO axis and pathways that drive chicken egg laying performance remain elusive. A total of 856 Chinese Luhua chicken was raised and the highest two hundred and the lowest two hundred chicken egg production were considered as high egg production (HEP) and low egg production (LEP) according to the total egg number at 300 days of age, respectively. RNA-seq sequencing (RNA-Seq) was conducted to explore the chicken transcriptome from the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovary tissue of 6 Chinese Luhua chicken with 3 high and low-rate egg production. In total, 76.09 Gb RNA-seq sequences were generated from 15 libraries with an average of 5.07 Gb for each library. Further analysis showed that 414, 356 and 10 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in pituitary gland, ovary and hypothalamus between HEP and LEP chickens, respectively. In pituitary gland, DEGs were involve in regulation of cellular glucose homeostasis, Ras protein signal transduction, negative regulation of hormone secretion. In Ovary DEGs were mainly involved in embryonic organ development, regulation of canonical Wnt signaling, response to peptide hormone. Our study identified DEGs that regulate mTOR signaling pathway, Jak-STAT signaling pathway, Tryptophan metabolism and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways at HPO-axis in laying hens. These important data contribute to improve our understanding of reproductive biology of chicken and isolating effective molecular markers that can be used for genetic selection in Chinese domestic Luhua chicken.
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