Dynamic Alterations on Synthesis and Transportation of Vitamin C and Deposition Status in Produced Eggs Induced by Dietary Vitamin C Supplementation in Hy-Line Brown Layer Model

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:bold>Background:</jats:bold> Some previous studies have indicated that in ovo feeding (IOF) of vitamin C (VC) had positive effects on the performance in poultry. In order to realize embryonic VC supplementation, an idea about hen’s dietary VC supplementation to achieve VC enrichment in produced eggs was proposed. And this study was executed to investigate the effects of dietary VC supplementation on synthesis and transportation of VC in layers and VC deposition status in produced eggs.<jats:bold>Results: </jats:bold>Compared with Arbor Acres breeder eggs, egg VC content was lower in Isa Brown breeder eggs and Hy-Line Brown layer eggs (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 (SVCT1) and SVCT2 expression was higher in ileum than in duodenum and jejunum (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). SVCT1 expression was extremely higher in magnum than in ovary, while SVCT2 expression was lower (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) expression was extremely higher and SVCT1 expression was higher in kidney than in liver, while SVCT2 was lower (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). 400 mg/kg VC supplementation increased SVCT1 expression in duodenum, ovary and magnum, while decreased GLO and SVCT1 expression in liver (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). 200 and 400 mg/kg VC supplementation increased SVCT2 expression in duodenum, while decreased GLO and SVCT1 expression in kidney and SVCT2 expression in liver (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05).<jats:bold>Conclusions:</jats:bold> Hy-Line Brown layer was a useful model for investigating effects of dietary VC supplementation on VC deposition in produced eggs. Dietary VC supplementation promoted VC absorption in duodenum and jejunum, but reduced endogenous VC synthesis in liver and kidney. Although dietary VC supplementation enhanced VC transportation in ovary and magnum, it finally failed to increase VC deposition in produced eggs.</jats:p>