China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (9): 3573-3583.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2023.09.013

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Complex Plant Essential Oils on Intestinal Barrier and Antioxidant Function of Broiler Chickens Challenged with Clostridium perfringens

SUN Xiangxue1, NING Nan1, XU Huanhuan1, GUO Shuangshuang1,2, ZHAO Di1,2, WANG Lei1,2, LI Peng1,2, HOU Yongqing1,2   

  1. 1. Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China;
    2. Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center of Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
  • Received:2023-03-10 Online:2023-09-05 Published:2023-08-24

Abstract: 【Objective】 This study was aimed at investigating the effect of complex plant essential oils on the intestinal barrier and antioxidant function of broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens).【Method】 A total of 288 1-day-old healthy Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups with 6 replicates per treatment and 12 birds each.The birds in the control and infected groups were fed the basal diet.The diet of infection+CTA and infection+CAT groups were supplemented with 100 mg/kg of complex plant essential oils,respectively.CTA was composed of cinnamaldehyde,thymol and anisaldehyde with a ratio of 1∶3∶1,and CAT was composed of cinnamaldehyde,anisaldehyde and thymol with a ratio of 1∶3∶1.Continuous oral irrigation 1×108 CFU/mL C.perfringens (1 mL/d) was administered to broilers in the infection,infection+CTA and infection+CAT groups from day 14 to day 20 of the trial.The birds in the control group were fed with an equal volume of blister meat medium.The animal trial lasted for 42 days.On days 21 and 28 of the trial,the blood,duodenum,jejunum and ileum of broilers were collected.The serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity and the plasma levels of antioxidant-related indexes were measured.Additionally,the intestinal morphology was observed,and then the mRNA levels of jejunal barrier-related genes and antioxidant-related indexes in the jejunum were investigated.【Result】 Compared with the control group,C.perfringens infection increased the serum DAO activity on days 21 and 28 (P<0.05),and downregulated the ratio of villi height to crypt depth (VH/CD) of jejunum on day 21 and of duodenum on day 28 of the trial (P<0.05).Compared with the infection group,the serum activity of DAO was reduced and VH of ileum was raised with CTA and CAT treated (P<0.05).In addition,the mRNA levels of occludin,claudin-1 and mucin-5ac in the jejunum on day 21 and ZO-1 on day 28 were upregulated with CTA supplemented.The transcription levels of ZO-1,occludin,claudin-1 and FABP2 on day 28 were elevated with CAT treated (P<0.05).Additionally,the plasma activity of GSH-Px was increased with CTA and CAT treated (P<0.05).【Conclusion】 Dietary supplementation of compound plant essential oil could improve the intestinal barrier and antioxidant function of broilers challenged with C.perfringens.

Key words: Clostridium perfringens; complex plant essential oils; broiler; intestinal barrier; antioxidant function

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