Effects of Chinese Gallotannins on Antioxidant Function, Intestinal Health, and Gut Flora in Broilers Challenged with <i>Escherichia coli</i> Lipopolysaccharide
Yuemeng Fu,
Peng Yuan,
Nadia Everaert,
Luke Comer,
Shuzhen Jiang,
Ning Jiao,
Libo Huang,
Xuejun Yuan,
Weiren Yang,
Yang Li
Affiliations
Yuemeng Fu
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Panhe Street 7, Tai’an 271017, China
Peng Yuan
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Panhe Street 7, Tai’an 271017, China
Nadia Everaert
Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Luke Comer
Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Shuzhen Jiang
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Panhe Street 7, Tai’an 271017, China
Ning Jiao
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Panhe Street 7, Tai’an 271017, China
Libo Huang
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Panhe Street 7, Tai’an 271017, China
Xuejun Yuan
College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Daizong Street 61, Tai’an 271018, China
Weiren Yang
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Panhe Street 7, Tai’an 271017, China
Yang Li
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Panhe Street 7, Tai’an 271017, China
This experiment was conducted to study the protective effects of dietary Chinese gallotannins (CGT) supplementation against Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury in broilers. Four hundred and fifty healthy Arbor Acres broilers (one-day-old) were randomly divided into three groups: (1) basal diet (CON group), (2) basal diet with LPS challenge (LPS group), and (3) basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg CGT as well as LPS challenge (LPS+CGT group). The experiment lasted for 21 days. Intraperitoneal LPS injections were administered to broilers in the LPS group and the LPS+CGT group on days 17, 19, and 21 of the trial, whereas the CON group received an intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% physiological saline. Blood and intestinal mucosa samples were collected 3 h after the LPS challenge. The results showed that LPS administration induced intestinal inflammation and apoptosis and damaged small intestinal morphology and structure in broilers. However, dietary supplementation with CGT alleviated the deleterious effects on intestinal morphology and barrier integrity caused by the LPS challenge, while also reducing intestinal apoptosis and inflammation, enhancing intestinal antioxidant capacity, and increasing cecal microbial alpha diversity in the LPS-challenged broilers. Therefore, our findings demonstrated that a 300 mg/kg CGT addition could improve intestinal morphology and gut barrier structure, as well as maintaining bacterial homeostasis, in broilers exposed to LPS. This might partially be attributed to the reduced cell apoptosis, decreased inflammatory response, and enhanced antioxidant capacity in the small intestinal mucosa.
