Effect of organically and conventionally produced diets on jejunal gene expression in chickens

Abstract

Using a nutrigenomics approach we studied the response of second-generation chickens at a transcriptional level to organically grown feed ingredients compared with conventionally grown feed ingredients. Both diets consisted of the same amounts of ingredients, the only difference was the production method. Gene expression was analysed in jejuni using whole genome chicken cDNA arrays. After analysis, forty-nine genes were found to be differentially regulated between chickens fed on the different diets, independent of their genetic background. Of these forty-nine genes, seven genes were involved in cholesterol biosynthesis. Genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis were higher expressed in jejuni from organically fed birds. Other genes found to be regulated were involved in immunological processes, such as B-G protein (part of chicken major histocompatibility complex), chemokine ah221, and the immunoglobulin heavy chain. Using quantitative PCR the effect of genetic background on the differential expression of genes was studied. Differences in gene expression existed between animals fed different diets as well as between different chicken lines. This indicated that diet and genetic background influence the transcriptional response of the jejunum. This is the first time that significant differences in gene expression were shown between animals on diets with organically or conventionally produced ingredients.

Health effects of an organic diet—consumer experiences in the Netherlands

“…However, it cannot be excluded that a small compositional difference can bring about health effects in humans. In an intervention study in chickens,9 even small differences in diet composition were shown to have an effect on some immune parameters and on genetic expression 10. This may also apply to humans.…”

“…On the other hand, it is difficult to determine the health relevance based purely on nutritional content. A Dutch intervention study in chickens showed that birds fed either an organic or a conventional diet showed differences in growth9 and jejunum gene expression 10. However, the caloric content of the diets was comparable and only minor differences in nutritive components existed 11, 12.…”

Applications of Microbiome Analyses in Alternative Poultry Broiler Production Systems

“…Even when diets are quite similar, differences between GIT microbiota may still be observed. For example, when de Greeff et al (62) compared jejunal gene expression in layer hens fed either conventional or organic diets of an otherwise identical composition, they detected differences in the expression of 49 genes, including those associated with cholesterol synthesis and immunological processes. In addition, pasture flock birds have access to a much wider variety of food sources such as insects and forages in addition to the formulated diets provided.…”

RESISTÊNCIA MECÂNICA E COMPOSIÇÃO MINERAL DAS CONCHAS DE MEXILHÕES (Pachoides pectinatus)

“…Os nutrientes podem estimular ou reprimir expressões gênicas (Rodriguez, 2010), nesse contexto, hipóteses de que componentes dietéticos da cevada ou a própria fibra possa ter influenciado genes relacionados ao crescimento do órgão não podem ser descartadas. Greeff et al (2009) ABSTRACT: Crassostrea gigas is considered the most cultivated species in the world, due to its good adaptation to climatic and geological conditions. The composition of its shell is basically calcium carbonate.…”