Effect of Quercetin on Lipids Metabolism Through Modulating the Gut Microbial and AMPK/PPAR Signaling Pathway in Broilers

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate effects and mechanism of quercetin on lipids metabolism in broilers. 480 AA broilers were randomly allotted to four treatments (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 g/kg quercetin) for 42 days. Compared with the control, 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly decreased percentage of abdominal fat (P < 0.05); 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly decreased relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Desulfovibrionaceae (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01; P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01); 0.2 g/kg quercetin significantly increased mRNA expression of PI3K, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, AMPKβ2, LKB1 (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and significantly reduced mRNA expression of SREBP1 and PPARγ (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); 0.4 g/kg quercetin significantly increased mRNA expression of LKB1 and PKB (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and significantly reduced mRNA expression of ACC, HMGR, PPARγ, and SREBP1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01); 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly increased mRNA expression of AMPKγ, LKB1, CPT1, PPARα, PKB (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.05), and significantly reduced the mRNA expression of PI3K, ACC, HMGR, PPARγ, SREBP1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01); 0.2 g/kg quercetin significantly increased protein expression of AMPK (P < 0.01); 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly increased protein expression of LKB1 (P < 0.01), 0.2 and 0.6 g/kg quercetin significantly increased protein expression of PI3K, PKB, CPT1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01), and significantly reduced protein expression of ACC and SREBP1 (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01). In conclusion, quercetin improved lipid metabolism by modulating gut microbial and AMPK/PPAR signaling pathway in broilers.

Keywords: AMPK; PPAR; lipids metabolism; microbial; quercetin.

FIGURE 1

Effect of quercetin on relative abundance of ileal microflora in AA broilers at the family level. Note: The results of relative quantification were expressed as 2^{– ΔΔCT}. The quantification of control was 1, namely 2^{– ΔΔCT} = 1. The value 2^{– ΔΔCT} of treatment group was a multiple of control. N = 3. ^∗P < 0.05, ^∗∗P < 0.01. Values are mean ± SEM (n = 3).

FIGURE 2

Effects of quercetin on genes relating to the AMPK/PPARα signaling pathway in liver of AA broilers. Note: The results of relative quantification were expressed as 2^{– ΔΔCT}. The quantification of control was 1, namely 2^{– ΔΔCT} = 1. The value 2^{– ΔΔCT} of treatment group was a multiple of control. N = 6. Mean values without a common letter are significantly different, P < 0.05. Values are mean ± SEM (n = 6).

FIGURE 3

Effects of quercetin on protein relating to the AMPK/PPARα signaling pathway in liver of AA broilers. Note: Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 3–5). Bars with different lowercase letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) Bars with different capital letters are significantly different (P < 0.01).

FIGURE 4

Proposed model of AMPK actions on gene expressions in liver of chickens fed with quercetin [(^–), Down, (+), Up] change.