Chicken cecal microbiota reduces abdominal fat deposition by regulating fat metabolism

Abstract

Cecal microbiota plays an essential role in chicken health. However, its contribution to fat metabolism, particularly in abdominal fat deposition, which is a severe problem in the poultry industry, is still unclear. Here, chickens at 1, 4, and 12 months of age with significantly (p < 0.05) higher and lower abdominal fat deposition were selected to elucidate fat metabolism. A significantly (p < 0.05) higher mRNA expression of fat anabolism genes (ACSL1, FADS1, CYP2C45, ACC, and FAS), a significantly (p < 0.05) lower mRNA expression of fat catabolism genes (CPT-1 and PPARα) and fat transport gene APOAI in liver/abdominal fat of high abdominal fat deposition chickens indicated that an unbalanced fat metabolism leads to excessive abdominal fat deposition. Parabacteroides, Parasutterella, Oscillibacter, and Anaerofustis were found significantly (p < 0.05) higher in high abdominal fat deposition chickens, while Sphaerochaeta was higher in low abdominal fat deposition chickens. Further, Spearman correlation analysis indicated that the relative abundance of cecal Parabacteroides, Parasutterella, Oscillibacter, and Anaerofustis was positively correlated with abdominal fat deposition, yet cecal Sphaerochaeta was negatively correlated with fat deposition. Interestingly, transferring fecal microbiota from adult chickens with low abdominal fat deposition into one-day-old chicks significantly (p < 0.05) decreased Parabacteroides and fat anabolism genes, while markedly increased Sphaerochaeta (p < 0.05) and fat catabolism genes (p < 0.05). Our findings might help to assess the potential mechanism of cecal microbiota regulating fat deposition in chicken production.

Age-Related Changes in Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and Abdominal Adipose Deposition in Yellow-Feathered Broilers Aged from 1 to 56 Days

“…Similar results were also reported in domestic pigeon squabs [45]. PPARα and CPT1 play vital roles in lipolysis, which stimulates fatty acid oxidation [6]. In this study, the mRNA expression level of hepatic PPARα increased from days 49 to 56, while the mRNA expression level of CPT1 increased from days 1 to 7 and days 49 to 56, but decreased from days 7 to 14.…”

“…Excessive abdominal adipose deposition is not desired by producers or consumers due to its detrimental effects on feed utilization, carcass characteristics, meat quality, economic concerns, and potential health issues of consumers [3][4][5]. A recent report stated that over 3 million tons of abdominal adipose tissue is produced in the poultry industry around the world every year, which directly leads to over USD 2.7 billion in economic loss [6]. In poultry, the liver is the main organ of de novo fatty acid synthesis, and abdominal adipose tissue serves as the main lipid storage site.…”

Dietary L-Methionine modulates the gut microbiota and improves the expression of tight junctions in an in vitro model of the chicken gastrointestinal tract

“…Specifically, the small intestine is the primary site for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, supported by a microbiota that facilitates these processes. Conversely, the cecum functions as a fermentation site, breaking down complex carbohydrates and hosting a varied and abundant microbiota essential for immune regulation and gut health [ 28 – 30 ]. Given the critical roles both the small intestine and cecum play in the nutritional efficiency and health of chickens, comprehensive analysis via FIMM was conducted on the digesta from these two digestive compartments of each bird.…”

Early fecal microbiota transplantation from high abdominal fat chickens affects recipient cecal microbiome and metabolism

“…The gut microbiota and its metabolites can influence host gene expression, immune system development, and maintenance of intestinal physiological functions and, thus, participate in host lipid metabolism ( Jing et al, 2022 ; Chen et al, 2023 ; Feng et al, 2023 ). Our previous study showed that multiple microbial taxa can regulate lipid biosynthesis and energy metabolism in the Qingyuan partridge chicken by producing secondary metabolites that enhance energy capture, promote fat deposition, or alleviate obesity ( Xiang et al, 2021b ).…”