Methionine supplementing effects on intestine, liver and uterus morphology, and on positivity and expression of Calbindin-D28k and TRPV6 epithelial calcium carriers in laying quail in thermoneutral conditions and under thermal stress

Abstract

This study aimed to provide the performance, localization and expression of the epithelial calcium transporter channels Calbindin-D28k (Calb) and TRPV6, and of the morphology of the digestive and reproductive system of laying quail under heat stress (HS), and with methionine supplementation (MS). This study characterized the positivity (immunohistochemistry) and expression (real-time PCR) of calcium channels in the kidneys, intestine and uterus of 504 laying quails under different MS (100, 110 and 120%) and temperatures (20, 24, 28 and 32°C). The animals under HS (32°C) had lower villus height, villus:crypt ratio, and goblet cell index in the duodenum and jejunum, fewer secondary and tertiary uterine folds, smaller hepatic steatosis, and increased number of distal convoluted renal tubules (CT) positive to Calb, and increased positivity in proximal CTs. Deleterious effects of HS were minimized with MS for: duodenal crypts, number of goblet cells of the jejunum, number of uterine folds, decreased Calb positivity in intestines and kidney, increased positivity of Calb in the uterus and increased TRPV6 gene expression in the kidney (P≤0.05). Epithelial calcium transporters were altered due to less need for calcium absorption and reabsorption due to more calcium available with the MS, increasing egg production in HS and quality in termoneutrality (P≤0.05). MS further increased intestinal villus absorption area and height, increased steatosis, decreased Calb positivity in the intestine and kidney, increased uterine positivity of Calb, and increase Calb and TRPV6 expression in the kidney (P≤0.001) under thermoneutrality. It was concluded that the use of MS (120%) is justifiable in order to partially reverse the deleterious effects of HS on the production, in the epithelial calcium carriers, and in the digestory and reproductive morphology of laying quail.

Rumen-protected zinc–methionine dietary inclusion alters dairy cow performances, and oxidative and inflammatory status under long-term environmental heat stress

“…Nevertheless, the information on the impact of individual AA feeding is scarce. de Moraes et al ( 52 ) examined the impact of dietary Met concentration on performance, localization, and expression of the epithelial calcium transporter channels of digestive and reproductive systems in laying quails under heat stress. The authors pinpointed that the negative effect of heat stress was minimized when the birds took Met concentration at a 120% requirement level.…”

“…In addition, epithelial calcium transporters were altered; hence, the animals required less calcium absorption and re-absorption due to more available calcium upon Met supplementation. Both Met and Zn are important factors for whole body protein synthesis, especially binding proteins ( 52 ). However, a combination of Zn and Met seems more effective.…”

A scoping review of the impact of heat stress on the organs of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

“…Heat stress increased gizzard weight (Furtado et al, 2022), but other organs remained unaffected, as Rodrigues et al (2022) reported. In the intestines: heat stress decreased villus height and area of the small intestines; reduced number of goblet cells; caused crypt epithelium hyperplasia; and decreased Calbindin-D28k (epithelial calcium transporter channel) activity in the duodenum (De Moraes et al, 2021;Mehaisen et al, 2017;Sandikci et al, 2004). In addition, heat stress decreased villus width in a report by Mehaisen et al (2017) but remained the same in a report by Sandikci et al (2004).…”

“…In addition, heat stress decreased villus width in a report by Mehaisen et al (2017) but remained the same in a report by Sandikci et al (2004). Furthermore, heat stress activates Kupffer cells; causes macrovesicular steatosis, severe congestion, bile accumulation, extramedullary haematopoiesis, hepatocyte degeneration, and necrosis in the liver (De Moraes et al, 2021;Mohamed et al, 2015;Ozcelik et al, 2014;Pu et al, 2019bPu et al, , 2020Sritharet et al, 2002). In the kidneys, heat stress causes fatty change, hydropic degeneration, congestion and necrosis of renal tubular cells; enhances mononuclear cell infiltration; increases calbindin-D28k activity in the proximal and distal tubules (De Moraes et al, 2021;Mohamed et al, 2015).…”

“…For example, heat stress reduced the quality and number of eggs produced by the quail, but the mechanism remains a mystery. However, De Moraes et al (2021) immunolabelled calbindin-D28k (calcium transporter channel) in the gut of the quail and found that heat stress reduces calcium absorption. Hence, because morphological evaluation is essential to the overall understanding of the research in heat stress, we identified and analysed studies on the gross and histological changes in the organs of the Japanese quail.…”