Dong Yuanyang, Zheng Yuqi, Liu Haoyu, Wang Yaru, Cui Jiaqing, Wu Yuan, Yan Lei, Miao Zhiqiang, Han Miaomiao, Huang Chenxuan, Li Peifeng, Su Yuan, Shen Yiru, Zhang Junzhen, Yuan Jianmin, Zhang Bingkun, Li Jianhui
Shanxi Agricultural University College of Animal Science, Taigu, China.
Shandong New Hope Liuhe Group Co., Ltd., Qingdao, China.
Front Microbiol. 2025 Feb 25;16:1542059. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1542059. eCollection 2025.
The intestinal dysfunction plays an important role in the decreased growth performance of broiler chickens under high stocking density. Gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health. However, the modulation pathway of gut microbiota by regulating the intestinal barrier and histomorphology remains unknown.
One hundred and forty-four male Arbor Acres broilers (22-d-old) with similar weight were randomly assigned to two treatments: a high (HSD, 20 broilers/m) or low stocking density treatment (LSD, 14 broilers/m), with six replicates per treatment. The experimental period was 20 days, from 22 to 42 days of age.
The final body weight at 42 days of age was lower in the HSD group ( = 0.0013) and average daily feed intake ( = 0.016) and weight gain of broilers from 22 to 42 days decreased ( = 0.012). In the HSD group on day 42, villus height and the ratio of villus height to the crypt depth in the ileum decreased ( < 0.05); mRNA expression of tight junction proteins, occludin ( < 0.01) and ZO1 ( < 0.05), were downregulated; whereas IL-6, TNFα, and NFκB p65 ( < 0.05) and IL-1β ( < 0.01) were upregulated. The HSD treatment increased the relative abundance of ( = 0.045) and decreased that of ( = 0.031). Cecal concentrations of acetic ( < 0.05) and butyric acids ( < 0.05) decreased. Gut metabolites co-metabolized by the host and gut microbiota were altered in the HSD group, with decreases in glycerophospholipid and tryptophan metabolites negatively correlated with ( < 0.05). The metabolite content of conjugated bile acids decreased and free bile acids increased ( < 0.05) with HSD. Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) was increased in the intestine of HSD-treated broilers ( < 0.01). The total cholic acid content of the HSD group was lower in the jejunum and ileum ( < 0.05) but higher in the cecum than in the LSD group ( < 0.01).
HSD caused dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota such as increased , along with enhanced BSH activity and excessive unabsorbed free bile acids. This resulted in ileal epithelial cells damage, inflammation, decreased growth performance of broilers under high stocking densities.
肠道功能障碍在高饲养密度下肉鸡生长性能下降中起重要作用。肠道微生物群在维持肠道健康方面发挥着重要作用。然而，通过调节肠道屏障和组织形态学来调控肠道微生物群的途径尚不清楚。
144只体重相近的22日龄雄性艾维茵肉鸡被随机分为两组处理：高饲养密度组（HSD，20只/m²）或低饲养密度组（LSD，14只/m²），每组6个重复。实验期为20天，从22日龄至42日龄。
42日龄时，HSD组的终末体重较低（P = 0.0013），22至42日龄肉鸡的平均日采食量（P = 0.016）和体重增加量下降（P = 0.012）。在42日龄时，HSD组回肠绒毛高度和绒毛高度与隐窝深度之比降低（P < 0.05）；紧密连接蛋白occludin（P < 0.01）和ZO1（P < 0.05）的mRNA表达下调；而IL-6、TNFα和NFκB p65（P < 0.05）以及IL-1β（P < 0.01）上调。HSD处理使[某种菌属]的相对丰度增加（P = 0.045），[另一种菌属]的相对丰度降低（P = 0.031）。盲肠中乙酸（P < 0.05）和丁酸（P <
