Suppressive Effects of β-Hydroxybutyrate Administration on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in Broiler Chickens.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the suppressive effects of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) administration on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in broiler chickens.

METHODS

Twenty-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly allocated to three groups, each of which was treated with saline (control), intraperitoneal administration of LPS [1.5 mg/kg body weight (BW), O127:B8], or LPS plus BHB (3 mmol/kg BW).

RESULTS

Plasma albumin and total protein concentration were significantly reduced by LPS administration, while BHB co-treatment partially attenuated the effects. The LPS treatment significantly induced plasma aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities, and interleukin (IL)-6 concentration, with the increases suppressed by BHB co-treatment ( < 0.05). The LPS treatment significantly increased the gene expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18 in the spleen and peripheral blood monocytes (PBMC), while the increases were partially attenuated by BHB in the spleen. Relatively higher levels of BHB dehydrogenase 1 and succinyl-CoA:3-ketoacid CoA transferase were observed in the spleen and skeletal muscle, while these gene levels were lower in PBMC and the liver.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results suggest that BHB can suppress LPS-induced inflammation, in which ketolytic enzyme expression levels may be involved in broiler chickens.