Dietary Protected Butyrate Supplementation of Broilers Modulates Intestinal Tight Junction Proteins and Stimulates Endogenous Production of Short Chain Fatty Acids in the Caecum
Gábor Mátis,
Máté Mackei,
Bart Boomsma,
Hedvig Fébel,
Katarzyna Nadolna,
Łukasz Szymański,
Joan E. Edwards,
Zsuzsanna Neogrády,
Krzysztof Kozłowski
Affiliations
Gábor Mátis
Division of Biochemistry, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
Máté Mackei
Division of Biochemistry, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
Bart Boomsma
Palital Feed Additives B.V., De Tweede Geerden, 5334 LH Velddriel, The Netherlands
Hedvig Fébel
Nutrition Physiology Research Group, Institute of Physiology and Nutrition, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gesztenyés Str. 1, H-2053 Herceghalom, Hungary
Katarzyna Nadolna
Department of Poultry Science and Apiculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Łukasz Szymański
Department of Poultry Science and Apiculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Joan E. Edwards
Palital Feed Additives B.V., De Tweede Geerden, 5334 LH Velddriel, The Netherlands
Zsuzsanna Neogrády
Division of Biochemistry, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, István utca 2, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary
Krzysztof Kozłowski
Department of Poultry Science and Apiculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate has various beneficial effects on the gut microbiota as well as on the overall health status and metabolism of the host organism. The modulatory role of butyrate on gut barrier integrity reflected by tight junction protein expression has been already described in mammalian species. However, there is limited information available regarding chickens. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to monitor the effects of protected butyrate on claudin barrier protein and monocarboxylate transporter 1 abundance in different gastrointestinal segments of chickens as well as the growth performance of broiler chickens. The effect of protected butyrate on the caecal microbiota was monitored by quantifying the concentrations of total eubacteria and key enzymes of butyrate production. Furthermore, intestinal SCFA concentrations were also measured. Based on the data obtained, protected butyrate increased the overall performance as well as the barrier integrity of various gut segments. Protected butyrate also positively affected the SCFA concentration and composition. These findings provide valuable insight into the complex effects of protected butyrate on broiler gut health, highlighting the beneficial effects in improving intestinal barrier integrity and performance parameters.
