Dietary vitamin A supplementation improves intestinal morphology and immune performance of goslings

Abstract

A 28-day experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin A (VA) levels on intestinal morphology and immune performance of goslings. Healthy, one-day-old goslings (360) of similar body weight were randomly divided into six groups fed diets supplemented with 0 (A), 3 000 (B), 6 000 (C), 9 000 (D), 12 000 (E), and 15 000 (F) IU/kg VA. Compared to group A, villus height in group D, as well as villus width and crypt depth in groups C and D were increased in the duodenum (quadratic effect, P < 0.05); villus height and villus width in groups B, C, D and E, and crypt depth in groups C and D were increased in the jejunum (quadratic effect, P < 0.05); villus height and villus width in groups C and D, and crypt depth in groups B, C, D, E and F, as well as muscular layer thickness in group D were increased in the ileum (quadratic effect, P < 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin A in groups B, C, D and E, and serum immunoglobulin G levels in groups D and E were higher than in group A (quadratic effect, P < 0.05). Serum interleukin-1 (quadratic effect, P < 0.05) and interleukin-6 (linear and quadratic effect, P < 0.05) levels in groups D and E, and serum interleukin-2 level (quadratic effect, P < 0.05) in group C were higher compared to group A. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 6 000-9 000 IU/kg VA improved intestinal morphology and immune performance of goslings.

Splenic Elemental Composition of Breast Cancer-Suffering Rats Supplemented with Pomegranate Seed Oil and Bitter Melon Extract

“…Microelements play different important roles in many metabolic processes in all biological systems in both physiological and pathological conditions [39]. Immune cells and their effector activities are sensitive to marginal and moderate deficiencies of trace elements, e.g., zinc deficiency in mice decreased levels of IgA both in serum and in mucosa [40]. An adequate supply of trace elements is required for the structure and function of metalloproteins that participate in energy production and protection against oxidative stress.…”

Nutritional Balance Matters: Assessing the Ramifications of Vitamin A Deficiency on Poultry Health and Productivity

“…Broiler chicken Elevated excretion of A. galli eggs [109] Broiler chicken Lower geometric antibody mean titer [125] Broiler chicken Increased viral replication and reduced serum immunoglobulin G levels [126] Broiler chicken Reduced cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity and heterophil and lymphocyte counts [127] Broiler chicken Reduced cytokine production [128] Broiler breeder Reduction in antibody titers after a vaccination [129,130] Goose Lower serum immunoglobulin A and G levels [131] Goose Lower immune organ weight, immune organ index, and immunoglobulin content [132] Laying hen Lower plasma immunoglobulin G content and mRNA expression of interleukin-10 in the spleen [133] Reproductive dysfunction…”

“…Reduced ovarian stromal and white follicle weights along with oviduct weight and length; reduction in insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor transcripts in the ovarian stroma and the walls of yellow follicles, follicle stimulating hormone receptor expression in the walls of white and yellow follicles, and luteinizing hormone receptor and growth hormone receptor transcripts in the walls of yellow follicles; expression of apoptosis gene transcripts in the ovary; reduced egg weight [114] Cock Reduction in testicular size, loss of spermatids, and degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium [115] Laying hen Increase in the number of atretic follicles, including moderate to severe hemorrhages [116] Laying hen Reduction in egg number, egg mass, and albumen quality [134] Abnormalities in digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular and urinary system Turkey breeder Pustules in the mouth and esophagus, urates in the ureters and kidneys [110] Turkey Squamous metaplasia and hyperkeratinization of glandular epithelium in the esophagus, proventriculus, and nasal glands [11] Turkey Pustules in the mouth and pharynx, urates in the intestinal mesentery and pericardium [135] Turkey Squamous metaplasia in the oesophagus, hyperuricemia [136] Chicken Gross lesions characterized by the presence of white to yellowish caseous, coalescing nodules in the mucous glands and ducts of the pharynx and esophagus [137,138] Goose Reduced villus height and width, crypt depth, and muscular layer thickness in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum [131] Chick Metaplasia of the nasal respiratory epithelium to a stratified squamous form [119] Turkey Squamous metaplasia affecting the epithelia of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts [35,106] Neurological maladies…”