title: Xanthophyll supplementation regulates carotenoid and retinoid metabolism in hens and chicks.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of xanthophylls (containing 40% lutein and 60% zeaxanthin; Juyuan Biochemical Co., Ltd., GuangZhou, China) on gene expression associated with carotenoid cleavage enzymes (β-carotene 15, 15'-monooxygenase, BCMO1; and β-carotene 9', 10'-dioxygenase, BCDO2) and retinoid metabolism (lecithin:retinol acyl transferase (LRAT) and STRA6) of breeding hens and chicks. In experiment 1, 432 hens were divided into 3 groups and fed diets supplemented with zero (as the control group), 20, or 40 mg/kg xanthophyll. The liver, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were sampled at d 35 of the trial. Results showed that 40 mg/kg xanthophyll supplementation increased BCDO2 mRNA in the liver, duodenum, and jejunum; LRAT mRNA in the jejunum; and STRA6 mRNA in the liver, while it decreased LRAT mRNA in the liver. Experiment 2 was a 2 × 2 factorial design. Male chicks hatched from a zero or 40 mg/kg xanthophyll diet of hens were fed a diet containing either zero or 40 mg/kg xanthophylls. The liver, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were sampled at zero, 7, 14, and 21 d after hatching. Results showed that in ovo xanthophyll modulated carotenoid and retinoid metabolism mainly within one wk after hatching. The maternal effects gradually vanished and dietary effects began to work one to 2 wk after hatching. Dietary xanthophyll regulated carotenoid and retinoid metabolism mainly from 2 wk onward. The xanthophyll regulation of carotenoid and retinoid metabolism also revealed strong tissue specificity. In conclusion, xanthophyll supplementation could modulate carotenoid and retinoid metabolism in different tissues of hens and chicks.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: China-UK-NYNU-Rres Joint Libratory of Insect Biology, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061 Henan, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Bao-Li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Li-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 Fujian, China wangchangkangcn@163.com yingzuobi@163.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Kang
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Zuo
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Bi
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D014975:Lutein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D065146:Zeaxanthins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D012176:Retinoids; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D002338:Carotenoids; D014975:Lutein
keywords: chicks; hens; metabolism; retinoid; xanthophylls