Induction of gut leakage in young broiler chickens fed a diet with low rye inclusion

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the absence of a non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme in a broiler diet containing a low level (10%) of rye inclusion. Two experimental groups with 40 Ross broilers each, were fed a diet containing 10% rye. One group was supplemented with a NSP enzyme, and the other was not supplemented with the enzyme to increase intestinal viscosity. The birds were fed the respective diets for 14 or 28 days. Intestinal sections were submitted to morphological, morphometric and mRNA-level gene expression analyses. To assess gut leakage, 150 min before euthanasia, broilers had no access to feed and received an oral gavage with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled dextran (FITC-d). Serum levels of FITC-d, D-lactate, tight-junction-associated protein 1 (TJAP1), citrulline and ovotransferrin were determined. A significant increase in FITC-d levels was observed in the 14-day-old birds fed the non-supplemented rye diet, and no other serum markers were affected. These birds presented a decreased villus height/crypt depth (VH:CD) ratio and an increased degree of damage in the jejunum. The ileum VH:CD increased, and the goblet cell number decreased in 28-day-old birds fed the nonsupplemented rye diet. When broilers were fed the non-supplemented rye diet, the mRNA expression of the tightjunction zona occludens 1 (ZO1) was significantly decreased in the jejunum of 14-day-old broilers, whereas a significant decrease in jejunum mRNA expression of ZO2 and mucin-2 (MUC2) was observed in the jejunum of 28day-old broilers. In contrast, a significant increase in the mRNA expression of ZO2 was observed in the ileum from 28-day-old broilers fed the non-supplemented rye diet. In conclusion, a 10% rye diet causes intestinal stress in young broiler chickens when the feed is not supplemented with a NSP enzyme. This study may be applied as experimental model of mild gut leakage of broiler chickens.

Epigenetic changes in pyloric caeca of Atlantic salmon fed diets containing increasing levels of lipids and choline

“…The effect on hypermethylation of promoter of tjap1 , a peripheral tight junction protein involved in control of paracellular permeability and movement of ions, macromolecules and immune cells [ 28 , 29 ], may have contributed to the alterations in the lipid and fatty acid transport capacity in the pyloric caeca mucosa with different degrees of excessive lipid accumulation (see the results published by Siciliani et al [ 9 ]). It is commonly used as a biomarker of intestinal integrity in broilers [ 41 , 42 ].…”

Potential of guar gum as a leaky gut model in broilers: Digestibility, performance, and microbiota responses

“…Numerous dietary ( Osselaere et al., 2013 ; Tellez et al., 2015 ; Vicuña et al., 2015 ), environmental ( Santos et al., 2019 , 2014 ), and managemental ( Baxter et al., 2019 ) stressors have been reported to induce a functional disturbance in tight junctions (TJ) causing increased intestinal permeability and inflammation. Nonetheless, the induced intestinal inflammation may be present in birds without clinical symptoms ( Santos et al., 2021 ). Certain plant-based feed ingredients rich in non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) such as rye can increase viscosity resulting in digestibility and performance reduction due to limited access to endogenous enzyme, bacterial overgrowth, and intestinal inflammation ( Vicuña et al., 2015 ).…”

“…Certain plant-based feed ingredients rich in non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) such as rye can increase viscosity resulting in digestibility and performance reduction due to limited access to endogenous enzyme, bacterial overgrowth, and intestinal inflammation ( Vicuña et al., 2015 ). Several authors ( Santos et al., 2021 ; Tellez et al., 2014 ; Vicuña et al., 2015 ) have used various levels of rye as a “leaky gut” model in birds. In this context, guar gum (GG) which contains β-galactomannan at 99% ( Sharma et al., 2021 ), may also induce “leaky gut” and growth depression in broiler chickens ( Sathe and Bose, 1962 ; Vohra and Kratzer, 1964 ).…”