Maternal dietary linoleic acid altered intestinal barrier function in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

Abstract

Linoleic acid (LA) is predominantly essential for poultry. Poultry lacking LA show retarded growth and reduced disease resistance. Intestinal barrier function plays an important role in pigeon squab growth, whereas research on the effects of LA on intestinal health in altrices is scant. Considering that squabs are fed by their parents, the study aimed to explore the effects of maternal dietary LA on intestinal morphology, tight junction proteins, immune cytokines and microbial flora in squabs. A completely randomised design with a control group, 1 % LA supplementation group, 2 % LA supplementation group and 4 % LA supplementation group was used. Six squabs from each treatment were randomly sampled at 21 d post-hatching. The results indicated that LA supplementation improved intestinal morphology, as reflected by increased villus height, villus area and the ratio of villi to crypts. Also, 1 % LA supplementation elevated the density of goblet cells in the intestine and strengthened tight junctions by up-regulating claudin-3 and occludin gene expression but down-regulating claudin-2 gene expression. Moreover, 1 % LA supplementation reduced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and partly increased anti-inflammatory cytokines. The intestinal microbial diversity in the 1 % LA supplementation group was higher than that in the other groups. As beneficial bacteria, Butyrivibrio was the biomarker of 1 % LA supplementation. However, excessive (4 %) LA supplementation led to adverse impacts on intestinal immunity and microbiota. In conclusion, maternal dietary LA might alter intestinal barrier function in pigeon squabs in a dose-dependent manner. Supplementation with 1 % LA was suggested in parental pigeons.

Black soldier fly larvae oil (Hermetia illucens L.) calcium salt enhances intestinal morphology and barrier function in laying hens

“…Polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ), mainly linoleic acid, affect the activity of transcription factors that control the expression of tight junction genes such as CLDN-1 and OCLN, as the result contribute the integrity and permeability of epithelial barrier ( Xu et al, 2021 ). The PUFA content of diet supplemented by BSFLO-SCa was dominated by linoleic acid (C18:2), which can be associated with the enhancement of tight junction gene expression, considerably increased the expression of CLDN-1, OCLN, and JAM-2 genes.…”

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

“…The intestines are the most important organs wherein most nutrients are absorbed ( Feng et al., 2019 ). Desirable dietary interventions targeting parental pigeons are proposed to be a good strategy to facilitate the maintenance of intestinal health status and homeostasis in squabs ( Xu et al., 2020a , b ). It is now generally accepted that intestinal functions are reflected by the intestinal size and structure, especially the villus height and crypt depth.…”

Investigation of the potential mechanism of farnesol in protecting the intestinal epithelium barrier from invasion by Candida albicans via untargeted metabolomics

“…Intestinal functions are usually affected by intestinal morphology such as villus area, villus height, and crypt depth (24). Maternal dietary linoleic acid supplementation has been shown to increase villus area and villus height compared with controls (25). A previous study indicated that linoleic acid deficiency in rats resulted in significantly lower villus height in the ileum compared to controls (26).…”