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Effects of Dietary Bacillus licheniformis on Gut Physical Barrier, Immunity, and Reproductive Hormones of Laying Hens

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Abstract

Previous study showed that dietary Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) administration contributes to the improvement of laying performance and egg quality in laying hens. In this study, we aimed to further evaluate its underlying mechanisms. Three hundred sixty Hy-Line Variety W-36 hens (28 weeks of age) were randomized into four groups, each group with six replications (n = 15). The control group received the basal diet and the treatment groups received the same basal diets supplemented with 0.01, 0.03, and 0.06% B. licheniformis powder (2 × 1010 cfu/g) for an 8-week trial. The results demonstrate that B. licheniformis significantly enhance the intestinal barrier functions via decreasing gut permeability, promoting mucin-2 transcription, and regulating inflammatory cytokines. The systemic immunity of layers in B. licheniformis treatment groups is improved through modulating the specific and non-specific immunity. In addition, gene expressions of hormone receptors, including estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor, are also regulated by B. licheniformis. Meanwhile, compared with the control, B. licheniformis significantly increase gonadotropin-releasing hormone level, but markedly reduce ghrelin and inhibin secretions. Overall, our data suggest that dietary inclusion of B. licheniformis can improve the intestinal barrier function and systemic immunity and regulate reproductive hormone secretions, which contribute to better laying performance and egg quality of hens.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The National 863 Project (Grant No. 013AA102803D) and the Key Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No. 2006C12086).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Molecular Feed Sciences, Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed Sciences, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Yang Wang, Wei Du, Kai Lei, Baikui Wang, Yuanyuan Wang & Weifen Li

  2. College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhejiang A & F University, Lin’an, China

    Yingshan Zhou

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  1. Yang Wang
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  2. Wei Du
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  4. Baikui Wang
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Correspondence to Weifen Li.

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All animal manipulations were conducted in accordance with the guidelines for animal welfare and approved by the Animal Welfare Committee of Animal Science College, Zhejiang University.

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Wang, Y., Du, W., Lei, K. et al. Effects of Dietary Bacillus licheniformis on Gut Physical Barrier, Immunity, and Reproductive Hormones of Laying Hens. Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. 9, 292–299 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-017-9252-3

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