Cecal microbiota affects chicken growth performance by regulating fat metabolism

Abstract

Background A growing body of evidences suggest critical role of the chicken gut microbiota in growth performance and fat metabolism. However, the underlying mechanism by which the gut microbiota affects chicken growth performance by regulating fat metabolism remains unclear. The purpose of current study was to compare cecal microbial communities between high and low body weight chickens and verify the correlation between fat metabolism and gut microbiota. Results Seven-week-old male and female chickens with significantly different body weight were used in the present study. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to reveal the cecal microbial community. Fat metabolism levels were compared between high and low body weight chickens. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the cecal microbiota and fat metabolism. Transferring fecal microbiota from adult chickens with high body weight into one-day-old chickens was examined by oral administration to verify gut microbiota effects on chicken growth through regulation of fat metabolism. There were significant differences in body weight, chest and leg muscle indexes as well as in cross-sectional area of muscle cells, suggesting different growth performance between high and low body weight chickens. By comparing the relative abundance of gut microbes in the cecal content in high and low body weight chickens, we found that Microbacterium and Sphingomonas were more abundant in high body weight chickens and Slackia was more abundant in low body weight chickens. The fat metabolism level was markedly different in serum, liver, abdominal adipose, chest and leg muscles between high and low body weight chickens. Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between fat metabolism and the relative abundance of Microbacterium and Sphingomonas and a negative correlation between fat metabolism and the abundance of Slackia. Hence, transferring fecal microbiota, instead of saline, from adult chickens with high body weight into one-day-old chickens improved growth performance and fat metabolism in liver. Conclusions These results suggested that cecal microbiota could affect chicken growth performance by regulating fat metabolism.