Gut–brain bidirectional determination in regulating the residual feed intake of small-sized meat ducks

Hao Bai; Dandan Geng; Fuguang Xue; Xiaofan Li; Chenxiao Wang; Chenyu Wang; Qixin Guo; Yong Jiang; Zhixiu Wang; Yulin Bi; Guohong Chen; Guobin Chang

Poultry Science (Jul 2024)

Gut–brain bidirectional determination in regulating the residual feed intake of small-sized meat ducks

Hao Bai,
Dandan Geng,
Fuguang Xue,
Xiaofan Li,
Chenxiao Wang,
Chenyu Wang,
Qixin Guo,
Yong Jiang,
Zhixiu Wang,
Yulin Bi,
Guohong Chen,
Guobin Chang

Affiliations

Hao Bai: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Dandan Geng: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Fuguang Xue: Nanchang key laboratory of animal health and safety production, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Xiaofan Li: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Chenxiao Wang: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Chenyu Wang: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Qixin Guo: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Yong Jiang: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Zhixiu Wang: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Yulin Bi: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Guohong Chen: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Guobin Chang: Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Corresponding author:

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 103, no. 7
p. 103778

Abstract

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ABSTRACT: The gut-brain axis is essential in maintaining the homeostasis of neuronal system, endocrine system, and intestinal microbiota in both the afferent and efferent directions. This axis is considered to be a key mechanism that regulates feed efficiency (FE). This study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of gut–brain axis-related genes on the residual feed intake (RFI) in H-strain small-sized meat ducks. A total of 500 ducks with similar initial BW (635.2 ± 15.1 g) were selected and reared in the same experimental facility until slaughter at 42 d of age. RFI was calculated from the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and metabolic body weight (MBW0.75). Thirty high-RFI (H-RFI) and 30 low-RFI (L-RFI) birds were selected for further evaluation of growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood biochemical parameter measurements. Six L-RFI and 6 H-RFI birds were then subjected to hypothalamic transcriptomic and cecal microbial sequencing analyses. Results indicated that L-RFI birds exhibited lower production performance (ADFI, FCR, and RFI) and blood biochemical indices (total cholesterol and ghrelin content) compared with H-RFI birds (P < 0.05). Gene expression differed significantly between the L-RFI and H-RFI birds, with 70 upregulated and 50 downregulated genes. The bacterial communities of L-RFI birds showed higher abundances of Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Lactococcus, and lower abundances of Erysipelatoclostridium, Parasutterella, Fournierella, and Blautia compared with H-RFI birds (P < 0.05). Interactive analysis revealed bacterial communities associated with FE were significantly correlated with hypothalamic genes (P < 0.05), for example, Bacteroides was positively correlated with DGKH and LIPT2, while negatively correlated with CAPN9, GABRD, and PDE1A. Bifidobacterium showed significant correlations with ATP2A3, CALHM6, and TMEM121B. Overall, RFI was a crucial indicator of FE, regulated by interactions between brain gene expression and gut microbiota through cAMP signaling, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and calcium signaling pathways. Notably, increased expression of hypothalamic genes and abundance of carbohydrate-utilization microbiota in L-RFI meat ducks improved FE by enhancing energy metabolism and volatile fatty acids absorption.

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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