Malfunctioned inflammatory response and serotonin metabolism at the microbiota-gut-brain axis drive feather pecking behavior in laying hens

Huang, Chen; Hao, Erying; Yue, Qiaoxian; Liu, Meng; Wang, Dehe; Chen, Yifan; Shi, Lei; Zhang, Dan; Zhao, Guimin; Chen, Hui

doi:10.1016/j.psj.2023.102686

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Our study also found a significant increase in 5-HIAA levels in the SYN group at both ages. One study found similar findings to ours, as there was a significant increase in 5-HIAA in HFP laying hens [10]. 5-HIAA is the major metabolite of 5-HT [49].…”

Section: Bloodsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…The results of the study showed significantly lower levels of plasma 5-HT at 60 weeks of age. Previous studies found a significant increase in circulating 5-HT levels in birds from high feathering pecking genetic lines [10,46]. Enterocromaffin cells in the GIT are responsible for 5-HT storage and release [47].…”

Section: Bloodmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Another study found changes in serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels in different parts of the broiler brain when supplemented with Bacillus subtilis [9]. As recently as 2023, a previous study found differences in the cecal microbiota profile, serotonin metabolism, and immune response, which influence low and high featherpecking genetic lines [10]. However, no studies to our knowledge have looked at the effect of a synbiotic on agonistic behavior, brain monoamine levels, and cecal microbial profiles simultaneously in laying hens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Feather pecking is a redirected foraging behavior and may be one way that the laying hen can cope with stressors as well [30,31]. It has been shown in the past with the combination of heavy genetic selection and a barren environment [32], with genetics as a strong influence, as seen in a previous study that found more frequent severe FP and total pecks in a high FP genetic strain [10]. The source of FP behavior may be due to fearfulness or other physiological deficiencies like serotonin and tryptophan [31].…”

Section: Behaviormentioning

confidence: 98%

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The Influence of Dietary Synbiotic on Agonistic Behavior, Stress, and Brain Monoamines via Modulation of the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Laying Hens

Johnson,

Clark,

Anderson

et al. 2024

Poultry

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A complex system of neural pathways, collectively known as the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis, interconnects the gut microbiota, the gastrointestinal system, and the brain along with its periphery. Previous studies have demonstrated that modulation of the MGB axis can influence stress-related behaviors such as anxiety. This connection becomes apparent in scenarios like agonistic behavior in laying hens, which is characterized by aggressive head and feather pecks, that can ultimately result in cannibalism and death. The objective was to examine the effects of a dietary synbiotic on agonistic behavior, plasma and brain monoamines, stress parameters, and cecal microbiota counts via modulation of the MGB axis. A total of 396 W36 Hy-Line laying hens were provided at random with a control (CON: basal diet) or treatment (SYN: basal diet supplemented with synbiotic) diet from 50 to 60 weeks old (nine pens/treatment, 22 birds/pen). Blood samples and video recordings (three consecutive days/week) were taken at 50 and 60 weeks. At 60 weeks, three hens/pen were euthanized for brain and cecal microbiota collection. Threatening, fighting, head, body, and feather pecking all occurred less frequently at 60 weeks in the SYN group (p < 0.05). Plasma corticosterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, dopamine, and serotonin were significantly lower while tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were significantly higher in birds from the SYN group (p < 0.05). Significant differences in serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, dopamine, homovanillic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were observed in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala of the brain. Serotonin and dopamine turnover rates were significantly different in all three regions of the brain (p < 0.05). Cecal counts of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were significantly higher in the SYN group (p < 0.05). Synbiotic supplementation resulted in many significant differences, indicating activation of the serotonergic systems and modulation of both the MGB axis and HPA axis with positive effects on welfare and stress.

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Section: Bloodsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Bloodmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Behaviormentioning

confidence: 98%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Influence of Dietary Synbiotic on Agonistic Behavior, Stress, and Brain Monoamines via Modulation of the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Laying Hens

Johnson,

Clark,

Anderson

et al. 2024

Poultry

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“…Current studies have evidenced that the influence of the gut microbiota on the host behavior as seen in mammals is shared in chickens [ 173 ]. For example, dietary supplements of probiotics-based Bacillus amyloliquefaciens reduce distress calls and aggressive behavior in turkey poults [ 174 ], and Lactobacillus rhamnosus [ 175 , 176 ] and Bacillus subtilis [ 177 ] decrease stress-induced FP in adult hens by restoring the gut microbiota and 5-HT metabolism [ 70 ]. However, the evidence for probiotic benefits is mixed, proposing that the use of live commensals coming directly from a healthy gut may be more effective than probiotics.…”

Section: Cecal Microbiota Transplantation Social Stress and Injurious...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Early-Life Cecal Microbiota Transplantation on Social Stress and Injurious Behaviors in Egg-Laying Chickens

Fu,

Hu,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

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Injurious behaviors (i.e., aggressive pecking, feather pecking, and cannibalism) in laying hens are a critical issue facing the egg industry due to increased social stress and related health and welfare issues as well as economic losses. In humans, stress-induced dysbiosis increases gut permeability, releasing various neuroactive factors, causing neuroinflammation and related neuropsychiatric disorders via the microbiota–gut–brain axis, and consequently increasing the frequency and intensity of aggression and violent behaviors. Restoration of the imbalanced gut microbial composition has become a novel treatment strategy for mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, impulsivity, and compulsivity. A similar function of modulating gut microbial composition following stress challenge may be present in egg-laying chickens. The avian cecum, as a multi-purpose organ, has the greatest bacterial biodiversity (bacterial diversity, richness, and species composition) along the gastrointestinal tract, with vitally important functions in maintaining physiological and behavioral homeostasis, especially during the periods of stress. To identify the effects of the gut microbiome on injurious behaviors in egg-laying chickens, we have designed and tested the effects of transferring cecal contents from two divergently selected inbred chicken lines on social stress and stress-related injurious behaviors in recipient chicks of a commercial layer strain. This article reports the outcomes from a multi-year study on the modification of gut microbiota composition to reduce injurious behaviors in egg-laying chickens. An important discovery of this corpus of experiments is that injurious behaviors in chickens can be reduced or inhibited through modifying the gut microbiota composition and brain serotonergic activities via the gut–brain axis, without donor-recipient genetic effects.

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Heat stress and poultry production: a comprehensive review

Oluwagbenga,

Fraley

2023

Poultry Science

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Malfunctioned inflammatory response and serotonin metabolism at the microbiota-gut-brain axis drive feather pecking behavior in laying hens

Cited by 5 publications

References 49 publications

The Influence of Dietary Synbiotic on Agonistic Behavior, Stress, and Brain Monoamines via Modulation of the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Laying Hens

The Influence of Dietary Synbiotic on Agonistic Behavior, Stress, and Brain Monoamines via Modulation of the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Laying Hens

The Impact of Early-Life Cecal Microbiota Transplantation on Social Stress and Injurious Behaviors in Egg-Laying Chickens

Heat stress and poultry production: a comprehensive review

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