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. 2021 Aug 3;12(1):86.
doi: 10.1186/s40104-021-00607-w.

Exploring the effectiveness of in ovo feeding of vitamin C based on the embryonic vitamin C synthesis and absorption in broiler chickens

Yufei Zhu #  1 , Jianfei Zhao #  1 , Chenxu Wang  1 , Fei Zhang  1 , Xinhuo Huang  2 , Zhouzheng Ren  1 , Xin Yang  1 , Yanli Liu  3 , Xiaojun Yang  4
Affiliations

Exploring the effectiveness of in ovo feeding of vitamin C based on the embryonic vitamin C synthesis and absorption in broiler chickens

Yufei Zhu et al. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. .

Abstract

Background: Many researches about in ovo feeding (IOF) of vitamin C (VC) are gradually carried out to explore physiological development in chicken, but little studies focus on VC synthesis capacity of the embryo itself, the selection of injection site and the effectiveness of IOF of VC. This study aims to explore the above problems.

Results: Kidney and yolk sac were the main organs for VC synthesis and L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) expression was lower during pre-hatch development than that during post-hatch development. Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 (SVCT1) expression was increased continuously in yolk sac from embryonic age 19 (E19) to post-hatch day 1 (D1) and in intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) from E17 to D1. Plasma VC content was higher at D1 than that at D21 and D42. IOF of VC significantly reduced GLO expression in liver, kidney and yolk sac as well as SVCT1 expression in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, but increased the VC content in plasma, brain, kidney and liver. In addition, IOF of VC obviously reduced the embryonic morality and increased the hatchability under heat stress.

Conclusions: This study suggested that IOF of VC at E11 in yolk was effective for embryonic VC supplementation. These findings provide a theoretical reference about the method of embryonic VC supplementation and effective methodology on embryonic VC nutrition in broiler chickens.

Keywords: In ovo feeding; L-gulonolactone oxidase; Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter; Vitamin C; Yolk.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that no competing interests exist. The manuscript has not been published previously.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Graphical illustration of the experimental design in this study. VC, vitamin C
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Dynamic GLO expression in liver (A), kidney (B) and yolk sac (C) of broilers during pre-hatch and post-hatch development. Values are means ± SEM. a–d Values with different superscript letters are different (P < 0.05, n = 8). GLO, L-gulonolactone oxidase; E11, embryonic age 11; D1, post-hatch day 1
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Dynamic SVCT1 expression in duodenum (A), jejunum (B), ileum (C) and yolk sac (D) of broilers during pre-hatch and post-hatch development. Values are means ± SEM. a–c Values with different superscript letters are different (P < 0.05, n = 8). SVCT1, sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1; E11, embryonic age 11; D1, post-hatch day 1
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Plasma VC content in broilers at D1, D21 and D42. Values are means ± SEM. a–b Values with different superscript letters are different (P < 0.05, n = 8). D1, post-hatch day 1
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Effects of in ovo feeding of vitamin C on the GLO expression in liver (A), kidney (B) and yolk sac (C) of broilers. Values are means ± SEM. a–b Values with different superscript letters are different (P < 0.05, n = 8). GLO, L-gulonolactone oxidase; CON, non-injected control group; NS, normal saline injected group; VC, vitamin C injected group; E15, embryonic age 15; D1, post-hatch day 1
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Effects of in ovo feeding of vitamin C on the SVCT1 and SVCT2 expression in duodenum (A and E), jejunum (B and F), ileum (C and G) and yolk sac (D and H) of broilers. Values are means ± SEM. a-b Values with different superscript letters are different (P < 0.05, n = 8). SVCT1, sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1; SVCT2, sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2; CON, non-injected control group; NS, normal saline injected group; VC, vitamin C injected group; E15, embryonic age 15; D1, post-hatch day 1
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Effects of in ovo feeding of vitamin C on embryonic morality and hatchability of fertilized eggs in broilers under heat stress. a-b Values with different superscript letters are different (P < 0.05). CON, non-injected control group; NS, normal saline injected group; VC, vitamin C injected group
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