Effect of vitamin D status improvement with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol on skeletal muscle growth characteristics and satellite cell activity in broiler chickens1,2

Abstract

Skeletal muscle satellite cells (SC) play a critical role in the hypertrophic growth of postnatal muscle. Increases in breast meat yield have been consistently observed in broiler chickens fed 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD3), but it is unclear whether this effect is mediated by SC. Thus, our objective was to determine the effect of vitamin D status improvement by replacing the majority of dietary vitamin D3 (D3) with 25OHD3 on SC activity and muscle growth characteristics in the pectoralis major (PM) and the biceps femoris (BF) muscles. Day-old, male Ross 708 broiler chickens (n = 150) were fed 1 of 2 corn and soybean meal-based diets for 49 d. The control diet (CTL) contained 5,000 IU D3 per kg of diet and the experimental diet (25OHD3) contained 2,240 IU D3 per kg of diet + 2,760 IU 25OHD3 per kg of diet. Ten birds per treatment were harvested every 7 d. Two hours before harvest, birds were injected intraperitoneally with 5'-bromo-2'deoxyuridine (BrdU) to label mitotically active cells. Blood was collected from each bird at harvest to measure circulating concentrations of 25OHD3, a marker of vitamin D status. The PM and BF muscles were weighed and processed for cryohistological determination of skeletal muscle fiber cross-sectional area, enumeration of Myf-5+ and Pax7+ SC, and mitotically active (BrdU+) SC using immunofluorescence microscopy. Circulating 25OHD3 concentrations were greater in 25OHD3-fed birds on d 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 when compared with CTL (P < 0.001). Growth performance and feed efficiency did not differ among dietary treatments (P > 0.10). Improved vitamin D status as a result of feeding 25OHD3 increased the number of mitotically active (Pax7+;BrdU+) SC (P = 0.01) and tended to increase the density of Pax7+ SC (P = 0.07) in the PM muscles of broilers on d 21 and 35, respectively. Broiler chickens fed 25OHD3 also tended to have greater Myf-5+ SC density (P = 0.09) on d 14, greater total nuclear density (P = 0.05) on d 28, and a greater muscle fiber cross-sectional area (P = 0.09) on d 49 in their PM muscles compared with CTL birds. Collectively, these results suggest that improvement of vitamin D status by replacing the majority of D3 in the diet with 25OHD3 can stimulate SC activity in the predominantly fast-twitch PM muscle and provide evidence toward understanding the mechanism behind previously observed increases in breast meat yield in 25OHD3-fed commercial broiler chickens.

Dietary vitamin D improves performance and bone mineralisation, but increases parasite replication and compromises gut health in Eimeria-infected broilers

“…Overall, plasma 25D 3 levels were significantly increased by higher vitD supplementation and by offering 25D 3 as the source of vitD activity in both uninfected and infected birds. The interaction between level and source indicates that offering 25D 3 is more efficient than D3 in raising its concentration and is consistent with previous reports in chickens where serum or plasma concentrations of the metabolite were assessed (11,(45)(46)(47) . Although there was no formal interaction between level, source and infection on circulating levels of 25D 3 , at d10 pi when effects of infection were maximized, 25D 3 levels were similar between MD 3 and L25D 3 birds suggesting a better absorption efficiency for dietary 25D 3 (Figure 5a).…”

Comparative Transcriptome Profiling of Skeletal Muscle from Black Muscovy Duck at Different Growth Stages Using RNA-seq

“…In this study, we focus on the skeletal muscle tissue of black Muscovy duck, because it is the prime part of carcass, and the yield of breast and leg meat is one of practical importance to the profitability of production [ 20 ]. Besides, muscle fiber numbers increase during embryonic development in poultry, after which myofiber numbers stop to increase, while myofiber volume still increases [ 8 ]. Therefore, we studied the gene expression patterns and network pathways at different developmental stages to further understand the molecular mechanism of duck skeletal muscle development.…”

“…During prenatal and very early postnatal development, muscle growth in vertebrates depends on an increasing number of muscle fibers (hyperplasia) [ 6 , 7 ]. After postnatal growth, the increase in skeletal muscle is mainly due to muscle hypertrophy, accompanied by the proliferation of satellite cells and then the new myonuclei is incorporated into existing myofibers [ 8 ]. Black Muscovy duck, an excellent meat duck breed in China, has the advantages of fast growth and high lean meat rate.…”

Effects of In Ovo Vitamin D₃ Injection on Subsequent Growth of Broilers

“…Bello et al (2014) reported that 25 (OH) D 3 dissolved in vaccine diluent buffer, did not negatively affect growth performance after hatching, while the hatching rate in the 25 (OH) D 3 -treated group was higher than in the control group, suggesting the possibility of improving hatching rates by administration of 25 (OH) D 3 . In addition, Hutton et al (2014) showed that dietary supplementation of 25 (OH) D 3 improved pectoral muscle development in broiler chicks.…”

“…In addition, dietary administration of 25 (OH) D 3 improved the development of satellite cell activity, and growth of skeletal muscles (Hutton et al, 2014). However, the effects of Vit D 3 over 25 (OH) D 3 were not evaluated in embryonic nutrition.…”