Dietary Supplementation with Chlorogenic Acid Enhances Antioxidant Capacity, Which Promotes Growth, Jejunum Barrier Function, and Cecum Microbiota in Broilers under High Stocking Density Stress
Yanhao Liu,
Yi Zhang,
Dongying Bai,
Yuqian Li,
Xianglong He,
Koichi Ito,
Kexin Liu,
Haiqiu Tan,
Wenrui Zhen,
Bingkun Zhang,
Yanbo Ma
Affiliations
Yanhao Liu
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Yi Zhang
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Dongying Bai
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Yuqian Li
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Xianglong He
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Koichi Ito
Department of Food and Physiological Models, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Ibaraki 319-0206, Japan
Kexin Liu
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Haiqiu Tan
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Wenrui Zhen
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Bingkun Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Yanbo Ma
Department of Animal Physiology, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471003, China
Chlorogenic acids (CGA) are widely used as feed additives for their ability to improve growth performance and intestinal health in poultry. However, whether dietary CGAs could reverse the impaired intestinal condition caused by high stocking density (HD) in broiler chickens is unknown. We determined the effect of dietary CGA on growth, serum antioxidant levels, jejunum barrier function, and the microbial community in the cecum of broilers raised under normal (ND) or HD conditions. HD stress significantly decreased growth and body weight, which was restored by CGA. The HD group showed increased serum malondialdehyde, an oxidative byproduct, and decreased SOD and GSH-Px activity. CGA reduced malondialdehyde and restored antioxidant enzyme activity. HD stress also significantly decreased jejunal villus length and increased crypt depth. Compared with ND, the expression of tight-junction genes was significantly decreased in the HD group, but this decrease was reversed by CGA. HD also significantly upregulated TNF-α. Compared with ND, the cecal microbiota in the HD group showed lower alpha diversity with increases in the harmful bacteria Turicibacter and Shigella. This change was altered in the HD + CGA group, with enrichment of Blautia, Akkermansia, and other beneficial bacteria. These results demonstrated that HD stress decreased serum antioxidant capacity, inhibited the development of jejunal villi, and downregulated expression of tight-junction genes, which increased intestinal permeability during the rapid growth period (21 to 35 days). Dietary CGA enhanced antioxidant capacity, improved intestinal integrity, and enhanced beneficial gut bacteria in chickens raised under HD conditions.
