Bile acid disorders and intestinal barrier dysfunction are involved in the development of fatty liver in laying hens

Lihua Zhao; Qiuyu Jiang; Jiaqi Lei; Jian Cui; Xianjie Pan; Yuan Yue; Bingkun Zhang

Poultry Science (Dec 2024)

Bile acid disorders and intestinal barrier dysfunction are involved in the development of fatty liver in laying hens

Lihua Zhao,
Qiuyu Jiang,
Jiaqi Lei,
Jian Cui,
Xianjie Pan,
Yuan Yue,
Bingkun Zhang

Affiliations

Lihua Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Qiuyu Jiang: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Jiaqi Lei: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Jian Cui: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Xianjie Pan: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Yuan Yue: State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Bingkun Zhang: Corresponding author.; State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 103, no. 12
p. 104422

Abstract

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The pathogenesis of fatty liver is highly intricate. The role of the gut-liver axis in the development of fatty liver has gained increasing recognition in recent years. This study was conducted to explore the role of bile acid signaling and gut barrier in the pathogenesis of fatty liver. A total of 100 “Jing Tint 6” laying hens, 56-week-old, were used and fed basal diets until 60 weeks of age. At the end of the experiment, thirty individuals were selected based on the degree of hepatic steatosis. The hens with minimal hepatic steatosis ( 33 %) in the liver were classified as the fatty liver group. Laying hens with fatty liver and healthy controls showed significant differences in body weight, liver index, abdominal fat ratio, feed conversion ratio (FCR), albumin height, Haugh unit, and biochemical indexes. The results of bile acid metabolomics revealed a clear separation in hepatic bile acid profiles between the fatty liver group and healthy controls, and multiple secondary bile acids were decreased in the fatty liver group, indicating disordered bile acid metabolism. Additionally, the mRNA levels of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and genes related to bile acid transport were significantly decreased in both the liver and terminal ileum of hens with fatty liver. Moreover, the laying hens with fatty liver exhibited significant decreases in ileal crypt depth, the number of goblet cells, and the mRNA expression of tight junction-related proteins, alongside a significant increase in ileal permeability. Collectively, these findings suggest that disordered bile acids, suppressed FXR-mediated signaling, and impaired intestinal barrier function are potential factors promoting the development of fatty liver. These insights indicate that regulating bile acids and enhancing intestinal barrier function may become new preventive and therapeutic strategies for fatty liver in the near future.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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