Effect of Carotenoids, Oligosaccharides and Anthocyanins on Growth Performance, Immunological Parameters and Intestinal Morphology in Broiler Chickens Challenged with Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide

• Published in: Animals (Basel) 2020-02, Vol.10 (2), p.347
• Main Authors: Csernus, Brigitta, Biró, Sándor, Babinszky, László, Komlósi, István, Jávor, András, Stündl, László, Remenyik, Judit, Bai, Péter, Oláh, János, Pesti-Asbóth, Georgina, Czeglédi, Levente
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Anthocyanins; broiler chicken; Broilers (Chickens); Carotenoids; cytokines; Diagnosis; Diseases; Escherichia coli infections; gene expression; Growth; Influence; intestinal morphology; Morphology (Biology); natural compounds; Oligosaccharides; Physiological aspects; receptors; β-glucan
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani10020347

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of carotenoid, oligosaccharide and anthocyanin supplementation in broiler diets under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Ross 308 chickens were fed 5 diets: basal diet (control diet), diet supplemented with β-glucan in 0.05% (positive control) and diets with 0.5% carotenoid-, oligosaccharide- or anthocyanin contents. On the 26th days of age, chickens were challenged intraperitoneally 2 mg LPS per kg of body weight. 12 h after injection, birds were euthanized, then spleen and ileum samples were collected. LPS induced increased relative mRNA expression of splenic ( = 0.0445) and ileal ( = 0.0435) interleukin-1β ( ), which was lower in the spleen in carotenoid ( = 0.0114), oligosaccharide ( = 0.0497) and anthocyanin ( = 0.0303)-treated chickens compared to LPS-injected control birds. Dietary supplementation of carotenoids also decreased relative gene expression of splenic interleukin-6 ( ) ( = 0.0325). In the ileum, β-glucan supplementation showed lower relative mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 5 ( ) ( = 0.0387) compared to anthocyanin treatment. Gene expression of both splenic and ileal interferon-α ( ), interferon-γ ( ), toll-like receptor 4 ( ) and toll-like receptor 5 ( ) were not influenced by dietary supplements. In conclusion, carotenoids, oligosaccharides and anthocyanins could partially mitigate the immune stress caused by LPS challenge. All of the compounds impacted longer villus height ( < 0.0001), villus height:crypt depth ratios were higher after β-glucan ( < 0.0001) and anthocyanin ( = 0.0063) supplementations and thickened mucosa was observed in β-glucan ( < 0.0001), oligosaccharide ( < 0.0001) and anthocyanin ( = 0.048) treatments. All of these findings could represent a more effective absorption of nutrients.