Dietary naringin supplementation on laying performance and antioxidant capacity of Three-Yellow breeder hens during the late laying period

Abstract

In this study, the effects of 3 graded dietary levels (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4%) of naringin were studied in Three-Yellow breeder hens during the late laying period (55-62 wk). A total of 480 Three-Yellow breeder hens (54-wk-old) were randomly divided into 4 groups (6 replicates of 20 hens): basal diet group (C), and basal diets supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% of naringin (N1, N2, and N3), respectively. Results showed that dietary supplementation with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% of naringin for 8 wk increased the laying rate and egg mass, enhanced egg yolk color, and decreased the feed egg ratio (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, compared with hens in C group, there were more preovulatory follicles and higher ovarian index as well as an enhanced ovarian somatic cell proliferation in hens of N2 and N3 groups (P < 0.05). With 0.2% and 0.4% naringin, glutathione concentration, the activity of catalase and total superoxide dismutase, and the total antioxidant capacity of ovarian tissues and serum increased (P < 0.05), while the contents of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide decreased (P < 0.05). Moreover, compared to C group, the transcription levels of antioxidant genes in ovarian tissues increased in hens from N2 and N3 groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with 0.2% and 0.4% naringin both could improve the laying rate, ovarian and serum antioxidant capacity of Three-Yellow breeder hens during the late laying period.

Keywords: Three-Yellow breeder hen; antioxidant capacity; late laying period; laying performance; naringin.

Figure 1

Appearance, body weight, and laying rate of Three-Yellow breeder hens. ^a,bMean values with different superscripts letters denote statistical significantly difference (P < 0.05). (A) Appearance of Three-Yellow breeder hens in C N1, N2, and N3. (B) Body weight (kg) of Three-Yellow breeder hens in each group after 4 and 8 wk of feeding (n = 12). (C,D) laying rate (%) of Three-Yellow breeder hens from 55 to 62 wk of age in each group (n = 6). Abbreviations: C, basal diet group; N1, N2, and N3, basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% of naringin, respectively.

Figure 2

Ovarian morphology, index, and protein expression of Three-Yellow breeder hens.^a,bMean values with different superscripts letters denote statistical significantly difference (P < 0.05). (A) Ovary morphology in each group; (B) Numbers of the preovulatory follicles (with diameters over 12 mm) in each group (n = 12). (C) Ovarian histomorphology in each group, scale bar: 50 μm. (D) Ovarian index in each group (n = 12). (E) Western blot analysis of CDK2 and PCNA in ovary. F: Expression levels of proteins related to cell proliferation of ovarian tissues in each group. Abbreviations: C, basal diet group; N1, N2, and N3, basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% of naringin, respectively.

Figure 3

Transcription levels of antioxidant genes in ovarian tissues of hens. ^a,bMean values with different superscripts letters denote statistical significantly difference (P < 0.05, n = 12). Abbreviations: C, basal diet group; N1, N2, and N3, basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% of naringin, respectively; CAT, catalase; SOD1, superoxide dismutase 1; GPX1, glutathione peroxidase 1; GSR, glutathione reductase; GLR, glutaredoxin; PRDX3, peroxiredoxin 3.