Hawthorn-leaves flavonoids (
HF
), extracted from hawthorn leaves, were reported to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic properties. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of dietary HF on the reproduction performance and liver lipid metabolism of aged breeder hens. A total of 270 aged Qiling breeder hens (60-wk-old) were randomly divided into 3 treatments: 1) basic corn-soybean diet (
CON
); 2) basic corn-soybean diet supplemented with 30 mg/kg HF (
LHF
); 3) basic corn-soybean diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg HF (
HHF
). The results showed that supplemented HF significantly improved the egg-laying rate and hatching rate of aged breeder hens (
P
< 0.05). HF treatment reduced the serum TG, T-CHO and L-LDL levels (
P
< 0.05), and upregulated the mRNA expressions of
ESR1, ESR2, VTGⅡ, ApoB
, and
ApoVI
in the liver (
P
< 0.05). Serum estrogen levels in HF treated groups were elevated compared with the CON group (
P
< 0.05). In the HHF group, the number of the primordial follicles was higher in comparison with the CON group (
P
< 0.05). Furthermore, dietary supplementation with HF improved the activity of antioxidant enzymes (T-AOC, GSH-Pχ) (
P
< 0.05), following with the reversed ovarian apoptosis and morphological damage. In addition, 60 mg/kg dietary HF upregulated the protein expression of PCNA and Nrf2 in the ovary (
P
< 0.05). In summary, dietary supplementation with HF could improve the reproduction performance through regulating liver lipid metabolism and improving ovarian function in aged breeder hens.
Mulberry‐leaf flavonoids (MF), extracted from mulberry leaves, exert antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effects of dietary MF on the ovarian function and liver lipid metabolism of aged breeder hens. We used 270 (60‐weeks‐old) Qiling breeder hens randomly assigned in 3 treatments with supplemental dietary MF doses (0, 30, 60 mg/kg). The results showed that dietary MF significantly improved the egg‐laying rate, followed by the reduced feed conversion rate (FCR) (p < 0.05). However, there is no obvious difference in hatchability and fertilised eggs hatchability among the three groups (p > 0.05). The level of T‐CHO, LDL‐C and AKP in serum was reduced, and the HDL‐C concentrations were increased by dietary MF (p < 0.05). MF treatment also improved the antioxidant capacity and reduced the apoptotic index of the ovary (p < 0.05). Additionally, dietary MF significantly increased the serum estradiol (E2) levels (p < 0.05) and the transcription level of CYP19A1 and LHR in the ovary (p < 0.05). Dietary MF enhanced fatty acid β‐oxidation in the liver via up‐regulating the mRNA expressions of PPARα and CPT‐I (p < 0.05). Moreover, the HMF group significantly decreased mRNA expressions of SREBP‐1c (p < 0.05) and increased mRNA expressions of ERα, VTG‐Ⅱ and ApoB in the liver (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary MF could improve the reproduction performance of aged breeder hens through improving ovary function and hepatic lipid metabolism.
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