Abstract: Experiments were conducted to study the effects of dietary taurine and housing density on oviduct function in laying hens. Green-shell laying hens were randomly assigned to a free range group and two caged groups, one with low-density and the other with high-density housing. Each group was further divided into control (C) and taurine treatment (T) groups. All hens were fed the same basic diet except that the T groups’ diet was supplemented with 0.1% taurine. The experiment lasted 15 d. Survival rates, laying rates, daily feed consumption, and daily weight gain were recorded. Histological changes, inflammatory mediator levels, and oxidation and anti-oxidation levels were determined. The results show that dietary taurine supplementation and reduced housing density significantly attenuated pathophysiological changes in the oviduct. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) DNA binding activity increased significantly in the high-density housing group compared with the two other housing groups and was reduced by taurine supplementation. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression in the high-density and low-density C and T groups increased significantly. In the free range and low-density groups, dietary taurine significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α mRNA. Supplementation with taurine decreased interferon-γ (IFN-γ) mRNA expression significantly in the low-density groups. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) mRNA expression was significantly higher in caged hens. IL-10 mRNA expression was higher in the high-density C group than in the free range and low-density C groups. Supplementation with taurine decreased IL-10 mRNA expression significantly in the high-density group and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the free range hens. We conclude that taurine has important protective effects against oviduct damage. Reducing housing density also results in less oxidative stress, less inflammatory cell infiltration, and lower levels of inflammatory mediators in the oviduct. Therefore, both dietary taurine and reduced housing density can ameliorate oviduct injury, enhance oviduct health, and promote egg production in laying hens.

日粮中添加牛磺酸对不同饲养方式蛋鸡输卵管功能的影响

[1]Bae, S.M., Lim, W., Jeong, W., et al., 2014. Hormonal regulation of beta-catenin during development of the avian oviduct and its expression in epithelial cell-derived ovarian carcinogenesis. Mol. Cell Endocrinol., 382(1):46-54.

[2]Baker, R.G., Hayden, M.S., Ghosh, S., 2011. NF-κB, inflammation, and metabolic disease. Cell Metab., 13(1):11-22.

[3]Beshay, E., Carrier, S., 2004. Oxidative stress plays a role in diabetes-induced bladder dysfunction in a rat model. Urology, 64(5):1062-1067.

[4]Buijs, S., van Poucke, E., van Dongen, S., et al., 2012. The influence of stocking density on broiler chicken bone quality and fluctuating asymmetry. Poult. Sci., 91(8):1759-1767.

[5]Burt, D., 2002. Applications of biotechnology in the poultry industry. Worlds Poult. Sci. J., 58(1):5-13.

[6]Crews, F.T., Bechara, R., Brown, L.A., et al., 2006. Cytokines and alcohol. Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res., 30(4):720-730.

[7]Erdem, A., Sevgili, A.M., Akbiyik, F., et al., 2008. The effect of taurine on mesenteric blood flow and organ injury in sepsis. Amino Acids, 35(2):403-410.

[8]Fan, S., Zheng, J., Duan, Z., et al., 2014. The influences of SE infection on layers’ production performance, egg quality and blood biochemical indicators. J. Anim. Sci. Biotechnol., 5(1):4-9.

[9]Grimble, R.F., 2006. The effects of sulfur amino acid intake on immune function in humans. J. Nutr., 136(6):1660S-1665S.

[10]Grisham, M.B., Hernandez, L.A., Granger, D.N., 1986. Xanthine oxidase and neutrophil infiltration in intestinal ischemia. Am. J. Physiol., 251(4 Pt 1):G567-G574.

[11]He, G., Karin, M., 2011. NF-κB and STAT3—key players in liver inflammation and cancer. Cell Res., 21(1):159-168.

[12]Hossain, A., Zheng, C.L., Kukita, A., et al., 2001. Balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines associated with the preventive effect of incomplete Freund’s adjuvant on the development of adjuvant arthritis in LEW rats. J. Autoimmun., 17(4):289-295.

[13]Kaneto, H., Kajimoto, Y., Miyagawa, J., et al., 1999. Beneficial effects of antioxidants in diabetes: possible protection of pancreatic beta-cells against glucose toxicity. Diabetes, 48(12):2398-2406.

[14]Lakshmi Devi, S., Anuradha, C.V., 2010. Mitochondrial damage, cytotoxicity and apoptosis in iron-potentiated alcoholic liver fibrosis: amelioration by taurine. Amino Acids, 38(3):869-879.

[15]Lewis, S.E., Boyle, P.M., McKinney, K.A., et al., 1995. Total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma is different in fertile and infertile men. Fertil. Steril., 64(4):868-870.

[16]Liebhart, D., Sulejmanovic, T., Grafl, B., et al., 2013. Vaccination against histomonosis prevents a drop in egg production in layers following challenge. Avian Pathol., 42(1):79-84.

[17]Malmezat, T., Breuillé, D., Pouyet, C., et al., 1998. Metabolism of cysteine is modified during the acute phase of sepsis in rats. J. Nutrl., 28(1):97-105.

[18]Malmezat, T., Breuillé, D., Pouyet, C., et al., 2000. Methionine transsulfuration is increased during sepsis in rats. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab., 279(6):E1391-E1397.

[19]Marçais, A., Viel, S., Grau, M., et al., 2013. Regulation of mouse NK cell development and function by cytokines. Front. Immunol., 4:450.

[20]Miao, J.F., Zhang, Y.S., Huang, G.Q., et al., 2009. Polysaccharide nucleic acid of Bacillus Calmette Guerin modulates Th1/Th2 cytokine gene expression in lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis in rats. Agric. Sci. Chin., 8(8):1010-1018.

[21]Miao, J.F., Zhang, J.Q., Zheng, L.H., et al., 2012. Taurine attenuates Streptococcus uberis-induced mastitis in rats by increasing T regulatory cells. Amino Acids, 42(6):2417-2428.

[22]Miao, J.F., Zhang, J.Q., Ma, Z.L., et al., 2013. The role of NADPH oxidase in taurine attenuation of Streptococcus uberis-induced mastitis in rats. Int. Immunopharmacol., 16(4):429-435.

[23]Nagl, M., Hess, M.W., Pfaller, K., 2000. Bactericidal activity of micromolar N-chlorotaurine: evidence for its antimicrobial function in the human defense system. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 44(9):2507-2513.

[24]Ohta, H., Azuma, J., Awata, N., et al., 1988. Mechanism of the protective action of taurine against isoprenaline induced myocardial damage. Cardiovasc. Res., 22(6):407-413.

[25]Oliveira, M.W., Minotto, J.B., de Oliveira, M.R., et al., 2010. Scavenging and antioxidant potential of physiological taurine concentrations against different reactive oxygen/ nitrogen species. Pharmacol. Rep., 62(1):185-193.

[26]Parikh, V., Khan, M.M., Mahadik, S.P., 2003. Differential effects of antipsychotics on expression of antioxidant enzymes and membrane lipid peroxidation in rat brain. J. Psychiatr. Res., 37(1):43-51.

[27]Ribeiro, R.A., Bonfleur, M.L., Amaral, A.G., et al., 2009. Taurine supplementation enhances nutrient-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic mice islets. Diabetes Metab. Res. Rev., 25(4):370-379.

[28]Robins, A., Phillips, C., 2011. International approaches to the welfare of meat chickens. World’s Poult. Sci. J., 67(2):351-369.

[29]Robinson, S.M., Mann, D.A., 2010. Role of nuclear factor κB in liver health and disease. Clin. Sci., 118(12):691-705.

[30]Rozenboim, I., Tako, E., Gal-Garber, O., 2007. The effect of heat stress on ovarian function of laying hens. Poult. Sci., 86(8):1760-1765.

[31]Sarica, M., Boga, S., Yamak, U.S., 2008. The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages. Czech. J. Anim. Sci., 53:346-353.

[32]Schulze-Koops, H., Kalden, J.R., 2001. The balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis. Best Pract. Res. Clin. Rheumatol., 15(5):677-691.

[33]Tian, Y., Zou, B., Yang, L., et al., 2011. High molecular weight persimmon tannin ameliorates cognition deficits and attenuates oxidative damage in senescent mice induced by D-galactose. Food Chem. Toxicol., 49(8):1728-1736.

[34]Wang, F.R., Dong, X.F., Zhang, X.M., et al., 2010. Effects of dietary taurine on egg production, egg quality and cholesterol levels in Japanese quail. J. Sci. Food Agric., 90(15):2660-2663.

[35]Wu, X.Q., Kong, X., Zhou, Y., et al., 2012. Sesamin exerts renoprotective effects by enhancing NO bioactivity in renovascular hypertensive rats fed with high-fat-sucrose diet. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 683(1-3):231-237.

[36]Xin, H., Gates, R.S., Green, A.R., et al., 2011. Environmental impacts and sustainability of egg production systems. Poult. Sci., 90(1):263-277.

[37]Yin, H., Miao, J., Ma, C., et al., 2012. β-Casomorphin-7 cause decreasing in oxidative stress and inhibiting NF-κB-iNOS-NO signal pathway in pancreas of diabetes rats. J. Food Sci., 77(2):C278-C282.

[38]Zielinska, M., Sawosz, E., Grodzik, M., et al., 2012. Effect of taurine and gold nanoparticles on the morphological and molecular characteristics of muscle development during chicken embryogenesis. Arch. Anim. Nutr., 66(1):1-13.