Intestinal Barrier Function and Performance of Broiler Chickens Fed Additional Arginine, Combination of Arginine and Glutamine or an Amino Acid-Based Solution

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of arginine (Arg); the combination of Arg and glutamine (Gln); as well as an amino acid-based solution (MIX) containing Arg, Gln, threonine (Thr), and grape extract, on performance, intestinal permeability, and expression of selected mechanistic genes. Using 240 male Ross 308 off-sex broiler chickens, four experimental treatments were replicated six times with 10 birds per replicate. The experimental treatments included 5 g/kg Arg, 2.5 g/kg Arg and 2.5 g/kg Gln, and 1 g/kg MIX added to a basal diet as control. In the second study, the four dietary treatments were then given to 24 birds with or without a synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX), as a gut dysfunction model. Feed conversion ratio was improved by all the supplemented treatments from day 7 to 35 of age (<i>p</i> < 0.001). DEX injections increased (<i>p</i> < 0.001) the intestinal permeability in all treatments, which tended to be reversed by Arg or MIX. Additional Arg, Arg-Gln, and MIX suppressed (<i>p</i> < 0.05) the overexpression of <i>IL-1β</i> generated by DEX. Feeding birds with MIX treatment increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) expression of <i>SGLT-1</i> and glutathione synthetase. In conclusion, tested amino acid supplements were effective in improving feed efficiency and restraining intestinal inflammation caused by DEX through <i>IL-1β</i> pathway.