title: Effects of taurine and housing density on renal function in laying hens.
abstract: This study investigated the putative protective effects of supplemental 2-aminoethane sulfonic acid (taurine) and reduced housing density on renal function in laying hens. We randomly assigned fifteen thousand green-shell laying hens into three groups: a free range group, a low-density caged group, and a high-density caged group. Each group was further divided equally into a control group (C) and a taurine treatment group (T). After 15 d, we analyzed histological changes in kidney cells, inflammatory mediator levels, oxidation and anti-oxidation levels. Experimental data revealed taurine supplementation, and rearing free range or in low-density housing can lessen morphological renal damage, inflammatory mediator levels, and oxidation levels and increase anti-oxidation levels. Our data demonstrate that taurine supplementation and a reduction in housing density can ameliorate renal impairment, increase productivity, enhance health, and promote welfare in laying hens.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.|Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of Dongyang City in Zhejiang Province, Dongyang 322100, China.
authors.forename: Zi-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Tian
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Liu-Hai
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Shu
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013654:Taurine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D013654:Taurine; D003404:Creatinine; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Laying hens; Rearing pattern; Renal impairment; Taurine; Welfare