Kongthungmon Sukritta, Pengsanthia Saknarin, Kamkrathok Boonyarit, Kaewsatuan Pramin, Molee Wittawat, Molee Amonrat
School of Animal Technology and Innovation, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand.
School of Animal Technology and Innovation, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30000, Thailand.
Poult Sci. 2025 Aug 8;104(11):105667. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105667.
Improving feed efficiency (FE) in Korat chickens (KRC), a Thai slow-growing breed, is essential for reducing production costs. This study aimed to investigate gene and protein expression related to oxidative phosphorylation and tight junction pathways, as well as jejunal tight junction morphology in KRC with divergent residual feed intake (RFI). A total of 115 male KRC was raised individually and fed in three phases (starter, grower, and finisher). At 10 wk, RFI was calculated and used to select low-RFI (LRFI) and high-RFI (HRFI) groups (n = 15/group). Gene and protein expression were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. Tight junction morphology was examined by Transmission Electron Microscope technique. LRFI chickens showed significantly lower RFI and FCR than HRFI chickens (P < 0.05) and exhibited upregulated expression of tight junction-related genes: Actinin Alpha 1 (ACTN1), Tubulin Alpha 3E (P < 0.05), while oxidative phosphorylation-related genes showed no significant differences. Additionally, the LRFI group demonstrated significantly higher ACTN1 protein expression (P < 0.05). Morphological analysis revealed that the LRFI group exhibited more compact and structurally intact tight junctions. These results indicate that improved intestinal barrier function and nutrient absorption in LRFI chickens may contribute to enhanced FE, highlighting their potential for genetic improvement in slow-growing chickens.
提高泰国生长缓慢的品种呵叻鸡（KRC）的饲料效率（FE）对于降低生产成本至关重要。本研究旨在调查与氧化磷酸化和紧密连接途径相关的基因和蛋白质表达，以及具有不同剩余采食量（RFI）的呵叻鸡空肠紧密连接形态。总共115只雄性呵叻鸡单独饲养，并分三个阶段（育雏期、生长期和育肥期）进行饲喂。在10周龄时，计算RFI并用于选择低RFI（LRFI）和高RFI（HRFI）组（每组n = 15）。分别通过实时定量PCR和蛋白质免疫印迹分析基因和蛋白质表达。通过透射电子显微镜技术检查紧密连接形态。LRFI鸡的RFI和饲料转化率（FCR）显著低于HRFI鸡（P < 0.05），并且紧密连接相关基因肌动蛋白α1（ACTN1）、微管蛋白α3E的表达上调（P < 0.05），而氧化磷酸化相关基因无显著差异。此外，LRFI组的ACTN1蛋白表达显著更高（P < 0.05）。形态学分析表明，LRFI组的紧密连接更紧密且结构完整。这些结果表明，LRFI鸡肠道屏障功能和营养吸收的改善可能有助于提高饲料效率，突出了它们在生长缓慢的鸡种中进行遗传改良的潜力。
