Avian Liver: The Forgotten Organ

Abstract

Despite having huge responsibilities in avian species, published reports on the influence of dietary factors and other possible constraints on the size, development and function of liver are limited. Consideration of the factors that could influence and alter liver function is therefore of critical relevance. In the current review, aspects of liver structure and function, and the influence of feed restriction, anti-nutritional factors, structural components and feed additives on liver are discussed. Effects of feed technology techniques such as thermal treatment and pelleting, feed particle size and whole grain feeding on the liver are also reviewed. A discussion of lipogenesis and lipid storage in poultry is presented to provide a better understanding and to differentiate the normal pathways of lipid metabolism from abnormal (i.e., disordered) pathways. The liver is the main site of fat synthesis in poultry, but under certain conditions, excessive fat can accumulate in the liver and cause problems. Factors contributing to the fatty liver syndrome are also examined.

Multi-omics analysis reveals tissue-specific patterns of chicken growth driven by metabolic reorganization

“…In the liver, central energy metabolism and TCA cycle activity were markedly elevated while OXPHOS flux and mitochondrial transport were reduced. This finding indicates that hepatic energy provision relied on enhanced glycolytic throughput and amino acid catabolism rather than oxidative phosphorylation itself 38,39 , consistent with reports of divergent metabolism between meat-type and layer-type chicken lines 18,20 . Glucose accumulation alongside reduced nucleotide and nitrogen disposal pathway activity further suggested metabolic stress under rapid growth conditions.…”

Multi-omics analysis reveals tissue-specific patterns of chicken growth driven by metabolic reorganization

“…In the liver, central energy metabolism and TCA cycle activity were markedly elevated while OXPHOS flux and mitochondrial transport were reduced. This finding indicates that hepatic energy provision relied on enhanced glycolytic throughput and amino acid catabolism rather than oxidative phosphorylation itself 38,39 , consistent with reports of divergent metabolism between meat-type and layer-type chicken lines 18,20 . Glucose accumulation alongside reduced nucleotide and nitrogen disposal pathway activity further suggested metabolic stress under rapid growth conditions.…”

Effect of dietary metallo-protease and Bacillus velezensis CE 100 supplementations on growth performance, footpad dermatitis and manure odor in broiler chickens

“…The results of B. velezensis CE 100 were partially consistent with previous studies in which dietary Bacillus strains were fed [21,24]. In poultry, the liver performs various metabolic functions and is a central organ for nutrient digestion [25]. In this study, the liver weight was different between the enzyme group and the probiotics group (Table 3), but there were no significant differences with the control.…”

Profile of digestive organ and carcass yield of broiler chickens reared with free-antibiotics feed-in different elevation area in Banyumas regency, Indonesia

“…High water consumption would cause low feed intake and relieve gizzard work. The liver weights of broiler chickens (Table 1) across regencies in this study were within the normal range, which was in line with Kokoszyński et al (2017) [14] reporting 42.5-49.9 g. The analysis of variance result showed that different elevation area significantly affected (P<0.05) liver weight because the liver performance is related to the amount of feed consumed; the more feed consumed, the harder the liver works, hence affecting the liver weight (Zaefarian et al, 2019)] [32] . This organ can quickly adapt to a change in feed and the environment.…”

Multi-omics analysis reveals tissue-specific patterns of chicken growth driven by metabolic reorganization

“…In the liver, central energy metabolism and TCA cycle activity were markedly elevated while OXPHOS flux and mitochondrial transport were reduced. This finding indicates that hepatic energy provision relied on enhanced glycolytic throughput and amino acid catabolism rather than oxidative phosphorylation itself 38,39 , consistent with reports of divergent metabolism between meat-type and layer-type chicken lines 18,20 . Glucose accumulation alongside reduced nucleotide and nitrogen disposal pathway activity further suggested metabolic stress under rapid growth conditions.…”

Effect of dietary metallo-protease and Bacillus velezensis CE 100 supplementations on growth performance, footpad dermatitis and manure odor in broiler chickens

“…The results of B. velezensis CE 100 were partially consistent with previous studies in which dietary Bacillus strains were fed [21,24]. In poultry, the liver performs various metabolic functions and is a central organ for nutrient digestion [25]. In this study, the liver weight was different between the enzyme group and the probiotics group (Table 3), but there were no significant differences with the control.…”

Profile of digestive organ and carcass yield of broiler chickens reared with free-antibiotics feed-in different elevation area in Banyumas regency, Indonesia

“…High water consumption would cause low feed intake and relieve gizzard work. The liver weights of broiler chickens (Table 1) across regencies in this study were within the normal range, which was in line with Kokoszyński et al (2017) [14] reporting 42.5-49.9 g. The analysis of variance result showed that different elevation area significantly affected (P<0.05) liver weight because the liver performance is related to the amount of feed consumed; the more feed consumed, the harder the liver works, hence affecting the liver weight (Zaefarian et al, 2019)] [32] . This organ can quickly adapt to a change in feed and the environment.…”

Multi-omics analysis reveals tissue-specific patterns of chicken growth driven by metabolic reorganization

“…In the liver, central energy metabolism and TCA cycle activity were markedly elevated while OXPHOS flux and mitochondrial transport were reduced. This finding indicates that hepatic energy provision relied on enhanced glycolytic throughput and amino acid catabolism rather than oxidative phosphorylation itself 38,39 , consistent with reports of divergent metabolism between meat-type and layer-type chicken lines 18,20 . Glucose accumulation alongside reduced nucleotide and nitrogen disposal pathway activity further suggested metabolic stress under rapid growth conditions.…”

Effect of dietary metallo-protease and Bacillus velezensis CE 100 supplementations on growth performance, footpad dermatitis and manure odor in broiler chickens

“…The results of B. velezensis CE 100 were partially consistent with previous studies in which dietary Bacillus strains were fed [21,24]. In poultry, the liver performs various metabolic functions and is a central organ for nutrient digestion [25]. In this study, the liver weight was different between the enzyme group and the probiotics group (Table 3), but there were no significant differences with the control.…”

Profile of digestive organ and carcass yield of broiler chickens reared with free-antibiotics feed-in different elevation area in Banyumas regency, Indonesia

“…High water consumption would cause low feed intake and relieve gizzard work. The liver weights of broiler chickens (Table 1) across regencies in this study were within the normal range, which was in line with Kokoszyński et al (2017) [14] reporting 42.5-49.9 g. The analysis of variance result showed that different elevation area significantly affected (P<0.05) liver weight because the liver performance is related to the amount of feed consumed; the more feed consumed, the harder the liver works, hence affecting the liver weight (Zaefarian et al, 2019)] [32] . This organ can quickly adapt to a change in feed and the environment.…”