DL-methionine and DL-methionyl-DL-methionine increase intestinal development and activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

Abstract

This experiment was undertaken to investigate the effects of parental dietary DL -methionine ( DL -Met ) and DL -methionyl- DL -methionine ( DL -Met-Met ) supplementation on the intestinal development of young squabs. A total of 108 pairs of breeding pigeons and 432 one-day-old squabs were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group ( CON ) was fed a basal diet (CP = 15%) and the experimental groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.3% DL -Met or DL -Met-Met. Each pair of breeding pigeons nourished 4 young squabs, and 8 squabs from each treatment were randomly sampled at the end of the experiment. The results indicated that DL -Met and DL -Met-Met supplementation improved the intestinal morphology and structure in the squabs, as reflected by the increased relative intestinal weight of each small intestinal segment, villus height, and villus to crypt ratio. In addition, DL -Met and DL -Met-Met supplementation significantly increased the protein expression of cell proliferation markers (Ki67 and PCNA) and tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and Claudin-1) in the jejunum and strengthened the fluorescence signal intensity of Ki67, PCNA and Villin. Moreover, the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins (Frizzled 7 [FZD7], p-GSK-3β, Active β-catenin, β-catenin, TCF4, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1), and intestinal peptide transporter 1 ( PepT1 ) in the jejunum was considerably higher in the treatment group than in the CON group ( P < 0.05), with the DL -Met-Met group having the highest expression. Consistently, the molecular docking results predicted the possibility that DL -Met or DL -Met-Met binds to the membrane receptor FZD7, which mediates Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Collectively, the improvement of the intestinal development in squabs after parental dietary 0.3% DL -Met and DL -Met-Met supplementation could be through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and DL -Met-Met is superior to DL -Met. Our findings may provide basic data for further optimizing the feeding formula of breeding pigeons and improving the growth and development of squabs.

Optimal DL-Methionyl-DL-Methionine Supplementation Improved Intestinal Physical Barrier Function by Changing Antioxidant Capacity, Apoptosis and Tight Junction Proteins in the Intestine of Juvenile Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

“…To our knowledge, there is no more information about the regulation of intracellular tight junction proteins by Met-Met in fish intestines. In domestic pigeons ( Columba livia ), a similar result showed that Met-Met supplementation also increased the protein expression of claudin-1 and ZO-1 in the jejunum [ 20 ], demonstrating that optimal Met-Met was beneficial for the intestinal tight junctions of animals.…”

“…JAK2 improved the mRNA levels of the anti-apoptosis protein B-cell lymphoma protein-2 (Bcl-2) and prevented cell death in murine hematopoietic cells [ 19 ]. Additionally, the expression of two tight junction proteins, claudin-1 and ZO-1, in the jejunum of squabs was increased by dietary Met-Met supplementation [ 20 ]. These observations revealed that optimal Met-Met addition might maintain the intestinal physical barrier in fish by modulating the antioxidant ability, cellular apoptosis, and intracellular tight junctions of the intestine, which is worth researching.…”

Dietary supplementation with probiotics increases growth performance, improves the intestinal mucosal barrier and activates the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway activity in chicks

“…Freshly collected jejunum tissue was rinsed in PBS buffer fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for 24 h and sliced into 5‐μm paraffin slices for H&E staining. Intestinal images were collected using a digital pathological section scanning system (MShot Image Analysis System; Micro‐shot Technology Co., Guangzhou, China); villus height and crypt depth were measured using ImageJ 30 …”

Proteomic changes associated with maternal dietary low ω6:ω3 ratio in piglets supplemented with seaweed Part II: Ileum proteomes

“…Villin-1 (VIL1), an indicator of absorptive cells in the brush border [56], was decreased expressions in SW piglets (specifically, in LRSW versus CRCT and LRCT). The tendency of a down-regulation in villin mRNA expression was observed in the jejunal tissue of neonatal piglets on d7 versus d0, reflecting declined jejunal villus height of 7-d-old piglets [57].…”