Age quadratically affects intestinal calcium and phosphorus transporter gene expression in broiler chickens

Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to evaluate the effects of age on growth, tibia development, and intestinal calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) transporter gene expressions in broiler chickens.Methods: A total of 224 male Arbor Acres broilers were fed with nutrient-adequate diets and reared in eight cages (28 broilers per cage). Eight broilers (one broiler per cage) were selected and killed at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 days of age, respectively.Results: Body weight continuously increased with age of broiler chickens from 5 to 40 days. The bone weight, ash weight, diameter, and length of the tibia also increased with broiler age. By contrast, the tibia ash, Ca, and P percentages quadratically changed with age (p<0.001), and the highest values of mineral contents were observed at 20, 25, and 25 days of age, respectively. The mRNA abundances of calcium-binding protein 28-kDa (CaBP-D28k), sodium-calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1), and plasma membrane ATPase 1b (PMCA1b) increased from 5 to 25 days and then decreased up to 40 days. Similar results were noted in the mRNA abundances of IIb sodium-phosphate cotransporter (NaPi-IIb), inorganic phosphate transporter 1 (PiT-1), inorganic phosphate transporter 2 (PiT-2), nuclear vitamin D receptor (nVDR), and membrane vitamin D receptor (mVDR). The mRNA abundances of Ca and P transporters and VDRs were the highest at 25 days of age.Conclusion: These data indicate that age quadratically affects intestinal Ca and P transporter gene expression and mineral absorption capacity in broiler chickens.

Ileal mineral digestibility and expression of nutrient transporter genes of broiler chickens in response to variable dietary total Ca and phytase supplementation are influenced by time on experimental diet and age of the birds

“…ATP2B1 is a plasma membrane ATPase Ca transporter. It, along with calbindin and the sodium-Ca exchanger, is responsible for transport of Ca from the enterocyte to the blood ( Lv et al, 2022 ). When fast-growing broilers were fed nutrient adequate diets, the expression of calbindin, plasma membrane Ca ATPase 1b, and NaPi-IIb mRNA increased in the duodenum from d 5 to 25 of age and then decreased to the conclusion of the study (d 40 of age; Lv et al, 2022 ).…”

“…It, along with calbindin and the sodium-Ca exchanger, is responsible for transport of Ca from the enterocyte to the blood ( Lv et al, 2022 ). When fast-growing broilers were fed nutrient adequate diets, the expression of calbindin, plasma membrane Ca ATPase 1b, and NaPi-IIb mRNA increased in the duodenum from d 5 to 25 of age and then decreased to the conclusion of the study (d 40 of age; Lv et al, 2022 ). Perhaps the expression of ATP2B1 mRNA is more relevant in the duodenum of broilers and therefore effects of Ca level at the jejunum were not reported in the current study.…”