BACKGROUND: L-Theanine has multiple beneficial biological activities. However, there is little information about the use of L-theanine in broiler production. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of L-theanine on growth performance, intestinal development and health, and the mRNA levels of intestinal peptide and amino acid (AA) transporters of broilers. RESULTS: Body weight and average daily gain were increased by L-theanine, whereas feed to gain ratio was decreased (quadratic, P < 0.05). Notably, the relative weight of duodenum, jejunum and ileum, villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, the jejunal activities of glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity, catalase and total superoxide dismutase were increased linearly and/or quadratically by L-theanine (P < 0.05), whereas crypt depth, serum D-lactic acid, and jejunal protein carbonyls and malondialdehyde content were decreased linearly and/or quadratically (P < 0.05). Moreover, L-theanine enhanced the jejunal mRNA levels of occludin, claudin-1, E-cadherin, zona occludens-1, di-and tripeptide transporter, excitatory AA transporter 3, Na + -independent cationic AA transporter 1, Na + -independent cationic and zwitterionic AA transporter, Na + -and Cl − -dependent neutral and cationic AA transporter, Na + -independent cationic and Na + -dependent neutral AA transporter (y+LAT) 1, y+LAT2, Na + -independent branched-chain and aromatic AA transporter, and heavy chain corresponding to the b ∘,+ transport system (linear and/or quadratic, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: L-Theanine beneficially affected the growth performance of broilers by improving intestinal development andhealth, and the intestinal mRNA levels of AA and peptide transporters. Therefore, L-theanine has the potential to be a promising feed additive for broilers.
Jejunum morphology analysisJejunum morphology was measured as previously described. 21,22 Briefly, the formalin-fixed jejunal samples were embedded in paraffin wax, cut into about 5 μm transverse sections, mounted on glass slides, and then stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Crypt depth and villus height were determined with an image processing and analysis system (Leica Imaging Systems Ltd, Cambridge, UK). Fifteen well-orientated villi and their adjacent crypts from each intestinal sample were measured.
Serum D-lactic acid content and jejunum antioxidant status analysisThe mucosa of jejunum was homogenized in ice-cold physiological saline solution (1:9, w/v). The homogenate was centrifuged at 2500 × g for 8 min at 4 ∘ C and then the supernatant was collected for antioxidant enzyme activity and metabolite content analysis at appropriate dilution. The protein concentration of the supernatant was assayed by the Bradford method with bovine serum albumin as the standard. The content of serum D-lactic acid and
RESULTS
Growth performanceGrowth performance data are shown in Table 3. L-Theanine elevated BW at days 21 and 42 (quadratic, P < 0.05). From days 1 to 21, L-theanine increased ADG (quadratic, P < 0.05) and decreased