Effect of Nutrient Dilution and Glutamine Supplementation on Growth Performance, Small Intestine Morphology and Immune Response of Broilers

پژوهشهای علوم دامی ایران

Article 1, Volume 8, Issue 2 - Serial Number 26, June 2016, Pages 284-297   

Document Type: Poultry Nutrition

DOI: 10.22067/ijasr.v8i2.27742

Authors

Majid Gheshlagh olyayee^{* 1}; Abolghasem Golian²; Alireza Haghparast³; Mohammad Reza Bassami⁴; Alireza Heravi Moussavi²

¹Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran

²Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

³Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

⁴Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract

Introduction Glutamine (Gln), a semi-essential or conditionally essential amino acid, is an abundant amino acid in plasma and skeletal muscle. It is the main energy substrate for cells that undergo intense replication, such as enterocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils and kidney cells and plays an important role in their function and homeostasis. Apart from providing nitrogen for protein synthesis, Gln is a precursor for nucleic acids, nucleotides, hexose amines, the nitric oxide precursor arginine (Arg), and the major antioxidant-glutathione. It plays a central role in nitrogen transport between tissues, specifically from muscle to gut, kidney, and liver. In addition to its role as a gluconeogenic substrate in the liver, kidney, and intestine, Gln is involved in the renal handling of ammonia, serving as a regulator of acid base homeostasis. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrient dilution and L- glutamine (Gln) supplementation on growth performance, intestine morphology and immune response of broilers during starter (0 to 10 days), growth (11 to 24 days) and finisher (25 to 42 days) periods.
Materials and methods A total of 320 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to eight treatments with 4 replicates and 10 chicks per each. In this study two levels of nutrient dilution (Ross 308 broiler nutrition recommendation and 5% diluted) and 4 levels of Gln supplementation (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5%) were used in a completely randomized design as factorial arrangement 2×4. Growth performance was measured periodically. In order to investigate jejenual histomorphology such as villus height, depth of crypt, villus height to depth of crypt ratio, villus width, muscle layer thickness and epithelium thickness, on day 42 after 4 h fasting, one bird per each replicate was randomly selected, slaughtered and 1 cm of middle section of jejenum was cut. Cellular immune response was assessed in 40-d-old chick using the in vivo cutaneous basophilic hypersensitivity response lectin phytohaemagglutinin (PHA-P) and humoral immune response was evaluated by injection of 1 ml of 10 % suspension of sheep red blood cell (SRBC) on day 18. Primary immune response was measured after 6 (24 –day-old chick) and 12 (30 –day-old chick) days of the injection and secondary immune response was assessed on day 36 and 42 experiment.
Results and Discussion The results indicated that nutrient dilution and Gln supplementation significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) in grower and finisher periods. Gln supplementation increased relative weights of jejunum, small intestine, thymus and bursa of fabricius. The nutrient dilution and Gln significantly affected villi height and crypt depth of jejunum. Gln is an important oxidative fuel for rapidly proliferating cells such as those of the gastrointestinal tract and immune system, reticulocytes, fibroblast. To study humoral immunity, the highest primary and secondary antibody response against Sheep red blood cell (SRBC) was seen in diets containing 1.5% Gln and the lowest was seen in control (without Gln supplementation). In cellular immunity determination, 24 h after subcutaneous injection of Phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) revealed that Gln supplementation increased toe web thickness. Gln is known to modulate immune function. Glutamine is utilized at a high rate by cells of the immune system in culture and is required to support optimal lymphocyte proliferation and production of cytokines by lymphocytes and macrophages. More recently, Gln has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, modulating cytokine production, both in vitro and in vivo, possibly through decreasing a major transcription factor regulating immune and inflammatory responses. In addition, it has been demonstrated that glutamine can modulate immune response by T cell activation. Therefore the increased toe web thickness after PHA-P injection can be explained by increasing T cell proliferation.
Conclusion The results of present study revealed that formulation of diets with Ross 308 nutrient recommendation and 0.5% Gln supplementation improved growth performance and enhancement of immune system function was observed in chicks fed diet with 1% Gln supplementation and Ross 308 nutrient recommendation.

Keywords

Broiler performance; Cellular immunity; Glutamine; Humoral Immunity; Nutrient dilution

References

1- Bartell, S. M., and A. B. Batal. 2007. The Effect of Supplemental Glutamine on Growth Performance, Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and Humoral Immune Response of Broilers. Poultry Science, 86:1940–1947.

2- Domeneghini, C., A. Di Giancamillo., G. Savoini., R. Paratte., V. Bontempo., and V. Dell’Orto. 2004. Structural patterns of swine ileal mucosa following L-glutamine and nucleotides administration during the weaning period. A histochemical and histometrical study. Histology and Histopathology, 19:49–58.

3- Erf, G. F. 2004. Cell- mediated immunity in poultry. Poultry Science, 83: 580-590.

4- Fasina, Y. O., J. B. Bowers., J. B. Hess., and S. R. Mckee. 2010. Effect of dietary glutamine supplementation on Salmonella colonization in the ceca of young broiler chicks. Poultry Science, 89:1042–1048.

5- Flaherty, L. O., and D. B. Hayes. 1999. Immunonutrition and surgical practice. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 58: 831–837.

6- Francis, J. A., and D. G. Richard. 2002. Glutamine: essential for immune nutrition in the critically ill. British Journal of Nutrition, 87, (Suppl. 1) S3–S8.

7- Grimble, R. F. 2001. Nutritional modulation of immune function. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 60: 389-397.

8- Hall, J. C., K. Heel., and McCauley. R .1996. Glutamine. British Journal of Surgery, 83: 305–312.

9- Kew, S., M. W. Sharon., P. Yaqoob., A. W. Fiona., A. M. Elizabeth., and P. C. Calder.1999. Dietary Glutamine Enhances Murine T-Lymphocyte Responsiveness. Journal of Nutrition, 1523-1531.

10- khan, J., Y. Liboshi., L. Cui., M. Wasa., k. Sando., Y. Takagi., and A. Okada. 1999. Alanyl-glutamine-supplemented parenteral nutrition increases luminal mucus gel and decreases permeability in the rat small intestine. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 23:24–31.

11- Khmpaka, S., S. Okrathok., L. Hokking., B. Thukhanon., and W. Molee. 2011. Influence of supplemental glutamine on nutrient digestibility and utilization, small intestinal morphology and gastrointestinal tract and immune organ development of broiler chickens. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 80: 606-609.

12- Kidd, M. T. 2004. Nutritional modulation of immune function in broiler. Poultry Science, 83: 650- 657.

13- Kitt, S. J., P. S. Miller., A. J. Lewis., and R. L. Fischer. 2002. Effects of glutamine on growth performance and small intestine villus height in weanling pigs. Pages 29–32 in Nebraska Swine Reproduction. University. Nebraska, Lincoln.

14- Klasing, K. C. 1998. Nutrition modulation of resistance to infectious disease. Poultry Science, 77:1119–25.

15- Klasing, K. C. 2007. Nutrition and the immune system, Brit. Poultry Science, 48: 525-537.

16- Lacey, J. M., and D. W. Wilmore. 1990. Is glutamine a conditionally essential amino acid? Nutrition Reviews, 48: 297–309.

17- Li, P. Y., Y. D. Li. W. K. Sung., and G. Wu. 2007. Amino acids and immune function British Journal of Nutrition, 98: 237–252.

18- Mok, E., and R. Hankard. 2011. Glutamine Supplementation in Sick Children: Is It Beneficial? Journal of Nutrition, Met. Review Article.1-41.

19- Newsholme, p., J. procopio, M. M. R. Lima., T. C. Curi., and R. Curi. 2003. Glutamine and Glutamate – their central role in cell metabolism and function. Cell Biochemistry & Function, 21: 1-9.

20- Ross 308, Broiler Management Manual. Nutrition Specification. 2007. Aviagen limited. Newbridge, Midlothin. UK.

21- Safamehr, A., A. Kheiri., and A. Nobakht. 2011. Investigation of the effects of recommended levels of nutrients on performance and carcass traits of Ross broiler chicks. Iranian Journal of Animal Science Research, 21 (1): 1-14. (In Persian).

22- Sakamoto, M. I., A. E. Murakami., T. G. V. Silveira., J. I. M. Fernandes., and C. A. L. Oliveira. 2006. Influence of Glutamine and Vitamin E on the Performance and the Immune Responses of Broiler Chickens. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 8:4. 243-249.

23- SAS Institute. 2003. SAS User’s Guide: Statistics. SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC.

24- Soltan, M. A. 2009. Influence of Dietary Glutamine Supplementation on Growth Performance, Small Intestinal Morphology, Immune Response and Some Blood Parameters of Broiler Chickens. International Journal of Poultry Science, 8 (1): 60-68.

25- Souba, W. W. 1993. Intestinal glutamine metabolism and nutrition. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 4: 2–8.

26- Suchner, U. K., S. Kuhn., and P. Fürst. 2000. The scientific basis of immunonutrition. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 59. 553–563.

27- Tella, J. L., N. J, Lemus., A. M. Carrete., and G. Blanco. 2008. The PHA test reflects acquired T- cell mediated immunocompetence in birds. Public Library of Science ONE, 3(9): e3295.

28- Thornton, S. A., A. corzo., G.T. Pharr., W. A. Dozier., D. M. Miles., and M. T. Kidd. 2006. Valine requirements for immune and growth responses in broilers from 3 to 6 weeks of age. British Poultry Science, 47: 190-199.

29- Wu G .2009. Amino acids: metabolism, functions, and nutrition. Amino Acids 37:1–17.

30- Wu G. 2010. Functional amino acids in growth, reproduction and health. Advances in Nutrition, 1: 31-37.

31- Wu, G., and C. J. Meininger. 2002. Regulation of nitric oxide synthesis by dietary factors. Annual Review of Nutrition, 22: 61–86.

32- Xiao-Ying, D., Y. Chu-Fen., T. Sheng-Qiu., J. Qing-Yan., and Z. Xiao-Ting. 2010. Effect and Mechanism of Glutamine on Productive Performance and Egg Quality of Laying Hens. Asian Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 23: 8: 1049 – 1056.

33- Yi, G. F., G. L. Allee., C. D. Knight., and J. J. Dibner. 2005. Impact of Glutamine and Oasis Hatchling Supplement on Growth Performance, Small Intestinal Morphology, and Immune Response of Broilers Vaccinated and Challenged with Eimeria maxima. Poultry Science, 84:283–293.

34- Yoneda, J. A., and K., Takehana. 2009. Regulatory roles of amino acids in immune response. Current Rheumatology Reviews, 5: 252-258.