Expression of cytokine genes in spleen tissue of broiler chickens fed with different levels of oak acorn

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department, Faculty of Agriculture Science, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran

2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran

3 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran.

Abstract

Replacing corn with oak fruit in the poultry diet can lead to a decrease in dependence and the outflow of currency from the country, but oak fruit has a large amount of anti-nutritional compounds (tannins), which can be a limiting factor in its consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effects of different amounts of oak fruit in the diet on the performance and immune system of poultry in order to determine the appropriate levels of oak for use in poultry rations. This study aimed to investigate the expression of cytokine genes in the spleen tissue of broiler chicken fed with a diet containing oak acorn. For this purpose, three rations containing 0, 15, and 20% oak acorn were used to feed broilers for a period of 42 days. At the ages of 21 and 42 days, the spleen tissue was separated from 18 slaughtered broiler chickens (6 from each treatment), and the total RNA was extracted. The expression of cytokine genes including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ were investigated in all three treatments. Beta-actin gene was also included in the experiment as a reference gene. The REST, 2009, V2.0.13 software was used for the analysis of gene expression data. According to the results, the expression of the IFN-γ gene showed a significant increase in the spleen tissue of broiler chickens fed with 15% oak acorn with respect to the control group at both 21 and 42 days of age (P<0.05). In the 20% oak acorn group, although the IFN-γ gene expression was higher than the control treatment at both ages, this difference was not significant. At the age of 21 days, the mRNA levels of the IL-4 gene also showed a significant increase in the diet containing 15% oak acorn compared to the control group (p<0.01). On the other hand, at the age of 42 days, the expression levels of interleukin 2 and 4 genes showed a significant decrease in the treatment of 15% oak acorn compared to the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 genes showed no significant difference in treatments containing oak acorn at both the ages of 21 and 42 days compared to the control group. In general, replacing corn with oak acorn in the diet of broiler chickens, based on the amount and duration of consumption, can lead to changes in the expression of immune system genes in the spleen tissue.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Introduction

Corn is one of the major feeds in the poultry diet, most of which is supplied through imports in our country. Therefore, it is necessary to identify alternative local food sources in the poultry diet and provide correct and principled models for the optimal use of them. Oak fruit is an available food in the country, which can be considered a good substitute for corn in the poultry diet. Oak fruit is rich in carbohydrates and starch, but it also contains high amounts of phenolic compounds and tannins. The phenolic compounds contain numerous hydroxyl groups in their structure, which can stimulate or suppress the immune system. Therefore, understanding the chemical properties and biological effects of these compounds is necessary in order to use oak in poultry diets. The spleen has a fundamental role in both humoral and cellular immune responses and its gene expression usually represents an indicator of the immune system. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of oak acorn on the expression of cytokine genes in the spleen tissue of broiler chickens.

 

Material and methods

In this study, 132 one-day-old chickens were allocated to three treatments and four repeats in a completely randomized design. The first treatment was fed with a diet based on the maize-soybean meal (without oak acorn), and the two other treatments contained 15% and 20% oak acorn, respectively. At the ages of 21 and 42 days, eighteen broiler chickens were selected randomly (6 chicks from each treatment) and their spleen tissue were harvested, and the total RNA was extracted. The expressions of cytokine genes including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ were investigated in all three treatments. Beta-actin gene was also included in the experiment as a reference gene. The REST, 2009, V2.0.13 software was used for the analysis of gene expression data.

 

Results

A significant increase was shown in the expression of the IFN-γ in the spleen tissue of broiler chicken fed with 15% oak acorn with respect to the control group at both 21 and 42 days of age (P<0.05). In the 20% oak acorn group, although the IFN-γ gene expression was higher than the control treatment at both ages, this difference was not significant. At the age of 21 days, the mRNA levels of the IL-4 gene also showed a significant increase in the diet containing 15% oak acorn compared to the control group (p<0.01). On the other hand, at the age of 42 days, the expression levels of interleukin 2 and 4 genes showed a significant decrease in the treatment of 15% oak acorn compared to the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 genes showed no significant difference in treatments containing oak acorn at both the ages of 21 and 42 days compared to the control group.

 

Conclusion

 In general, replacing corn with an oak acorn in the diet of broiler chicken, based on the amount and duration of consumption, can lead to changes in the expression of immune system genes in the spleen tissue. Generally, a high concentration of polyphenolic compounds such as tannins in the diet can be altered the gene expression of the immune system due to stress, reducing feed consumption, decreasing the absorption of carbohydrates and amino acids, preventing the transcription factors binding to DNA in transcription and modulation of the microbial activity of the digestive tract.

 

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Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 55, Issue 2
June 2024
Pages 211-223

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History

  • Receive Date: 12 September 2022
  • Revise Date: 07 June 2023
  • Accept Date: 10 June 2023

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