Wu Lianchi, Hu Zhaoying, Lv Yujie, Ge Chaoyue, Luo Xinyu, Zhan Shenao, Huang Weichen, Shen Xinyu, Yu Dongyou, Liu Bing
College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
ZJU-Xinchang Joint Innovation Centre (TianMu Laboratory), Gaochuang Hi-Tech Park, Xinchang 312500, China.
Anim Nutr. 2025 May 8;22:72-87. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2025.03.008. eCollection 2025 Sep.
polysaccharide (HEP) is widely regarded as a potential food additive because of its rich nutritional value. This study aimed to explore the effect of HEP on the eggshell quality of aged laying hens and to reveal the mechanisms with particular emphasis on the alterations of uterine microbiota and health. A total of 360 Jingbai laying hens at 58 weeks old were randomly allocated into 4 groups, with 6 replicates per treatment and 15 birds per replicate. The hens were fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 250, 500, or 750 mg/kg HEP for 8 weeks. The results showed that HEP supplementation enhanced eggshell quality by improving the eggshell ultrastructure, as evidenced by increased eggshell thickness and strength ( < 0.05). HEP decreased the abundance of Enterobacterales, Yersiniaceae, and and increased the abundance of Actinobacteria in the uterus ( < 0.05). HEP inhibited the activation of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and decreased ( < 0.05) the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β () and tumor necrosis factor alpha (). HEP promoted cell proliferation, as evidenced by the increased ( < 0.05) expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen () and Proliferation Ki-67 (), and reduced necrotic apoptosis by downregulating ( < 0.05) the mRNA expression of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 () and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 9 (). HEP restored the physiological function of the uterus and improved eggshell biomineralization as evidenced by the increased mRNA levels of ATPase plasma membrane Ca transporting 1 (), ATPase plasma membrane Ca transporting 2 () and solute carrier family 26 member 9 () and decreased ovotransferrin () expression ( < 0.05). These findings suggest that dietary HEP supplementation can improve the functional integrity of the uterus and modulate uterine microbiota. The enhanced functional integrity of the uterus facilitates the regulation of the expression of proteins involved in eggshell biomineralization, thereby ultimately improving eggshell quality through the modulation of eggshell ultrastructure.
由于其丰富的营养价值，多糖（HEP）被广泛认为是一种潜在的食品添加剂。本研究旨在探讨HEP对老龄蛋鸡蛋壳质量的影响，并揭示其机制，特别关注子宫微生物群的变化和健康状况。将360只58周龄的京白蛋鸡随机分为4组，每组6个重复，每个重复15只鸡。给母鸡饲喂添加0、250、500或750mg/kg HEP的基础日粮8周。结果表明，添加HEP可通过改善蛋壳超微结构提高蛋壳质量，表现为蛋壳厚度和强度增加（P<0.05）。HEP降低了子宫中肠杆菌科、耶尔森菌科的丰度，增加了放线菌的丰度（P<0.05）。HEP抑制了Toll样受体4（TLR4）/核因子κB（NF-κB）信号通路的激活，降低了白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）和肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）的mRNA表达（P<0.05）。HEP促进细胞增殖，表现为增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）和增殖相关蛋白Ki-67的表达增加（P<0.05），并通过下调半胱天冬酶3（Caspase-3）和半胱天冬酶9（Caspase-9）的mRNA表达减少坏死性凋亡（P<0.05）。HEP恢复了子宫的生理功能，改善了蛋壳生物矿化，表现为质膜钙转运ATP酶1（PMCA1）、质膜钙转运ATP酶2（PMCA2）和溶质载体家族26成员9（SLC26A9）的mRNA水平增加，卵转铁蛋白（OVT）表达降低（P<0.05）。这些发现表明，日粮中添加HEP可以改善子宫的功能完整性并调节子宫微生物群。子宫功能完整性的增强有助于调节参与蛋壳生物矿化的蛋白质的表达，从而最终通过调节蛋壳超微结构改善蛋壳质量。
