Methionine deficiency decreases hepatic lipid exportation and induces liver lipid accumulation in broilers

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of deficiency or high level addition of methionine (Met) in diet on homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism and hepatic lipid metabolism in broiler. A completely random design was used with 3 dietary treatments with the addition of Met from DL-methionine (DLM) at 0%, 0.22%, and 0.32% in a basal diet. The analyzed dietary Met was 0.271%, 0.485%, and 0.584% respectively for the Met-deficient, sufficient, and excessive diet. A total of 360 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to the treatments. The trial was last for 21 d. Compared to the Met-sufficient diet, the Met-deficient diet significantly resulted the decrease of 1 to 21 d growth performance and the increase of liver ether extract (EE). Compared to the Met-sufficient group, the expression of lipid transport gene apolipoprotein B (APOB) in both Met-deficient and Met-excessive group was decreased (P < 0.05). However, compared to the Met-sufficient group, a decreased of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) was only shown in birds fed a Met-deficient diet (P < 0.05). Although the plasma Hcy content was decreased, the expression of Cystathionine β-synthase (CβS) and hepatic inflammatory cytokines included interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) was significantly decreased in birds fed the Met-deficient diet when compared to those in Met-sufficient group (P < 0.05). When compared to the Met-sufficient group, the broilers in high dietary Met group had increased levels of catabolic enzyme genes expression especially acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1) and carbohydrate response element-binding protein (CHREBP) (P < 0.05), and a decreased content of liver EE. In conclusion, dietary Met deficiency decreased the hepatic lipid export and subsequently increased the hepatic lipid accumulation. High dietary Met addition increased the hepatic lipid catabolism and subsequently decreased the liver lipid accumulation.

The effect of different dietary ratios of lysine, arginine and methionine on biochemical parameters and hormone secretion in turkeys

“…Research by Peng et al. (2018) has shown that the use of diets high in Met for chickens does not cause hepatic lipid accumulation or hepatocyte damage. In contrast, feeding chickens a Met‐deficient diet can reduce hepatic lipid export by decreasing expression of APOB and increasing that of inflammatory cytokines, which causes lipid accumulation in the liver and ultimately hepatocyte damage.…”

Methionine Deficiency Affects Liver and Kidney Health, Oxidative Stress, and Ileum Mucosal Immunity in Broilers

“…Met supplementation for broilers is important before 42 days of age, when they are growing quickly and establishing immunity. Peng et al (8) reported that broiler consumption of an MD diet with 0.3% Met increased lipid accumulation in the liver by decreasing hepatic lipid catabolism, which concurred with reported findings of liver weight gain in broilers with a 0.2% Met diet (23) and abnormal increased triglyceride levels and decreased lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in serum of broilers with a 0.3% Met diet (24). For the kidney, the organ most closely related to the liver, renal cell apoptosis in broilers was upregulated through the P53-P21 cancer gene pathway with consumption of a 0.3% Met diet (25).…”

“…Assessing the physiological functions of Met through diets supplemented with various MD levels has revealed several negative phenomena. Fouad and El-Senousey ( 7 ) reported that an MD diet increased the percentage of abdominal fat due to increased fatty acid synthase and hormone-sensitive lipase activities, lipid accumulation in the liver, and decreased hepatic lipid catabolism ( 8 ). The reason why would such fatty acid-related metabolic disorder happen is still unclear.…”

Amino acid pattern in the liver and blood of fattening turkeys suffering from hepatic lipidosis

“…Against this background the share of methionine on CP in liver tissue of animals with HL was “strongly” positive correlated with the CF content in liver tissue. Methionine is a precursor for carnitine (Alizadeh et al, 2011), plays an important role in VLDL secretion (Gruffat et al, 1996), and is therefore involved in the removal of fat from the liver (Peng et al, 2018). Several studies have reported significant increases in abdominal fat after feeding broilers a methionine-deficient diet (Corzo and Kidd, 2003; Yao et al, 2006; Zhan et al, 2006; Opoola et al, 2012) and a reduction in liver weight due to methionine supplementation (Jariyahatthakij et al, 2018).…”