The effects of copper-loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology, microbiota, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and gut-related gene expression in broilers
Intestinal health is pivotal in modern poultry production, profoundly influencing growth performance and disease resistance. This study evaluated copper-loaded montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) as a novel feed additive to enhance gut health in broilers. A 21-day experiment was conducted using 270 one-day-old...
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Poultry Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125008491 |
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| author | Xinru Hu Yiwen Rao Peiqianng Yuan Xingyong Chen Cheng Zhang |
| author_facet | Xinru Hu Yiwen Rao Peiqianng Yuan Xingyong Chen Cheng Zhang |
| author_sort | Xinru Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intestinal health is pivotal in modern poultry production, profoundly influencing growth performance and disease resistance. This study evaluated copper-loaded montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) as a novel feed additive to enhance gut health in broilers. A 21-day experiment was conducted using 270 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers, randomly divided to three dietary treatments: a basal diet, a group supplemented with 350 mg/kg MMT, and a group supplemented with 350 mg/kg Cu-MMT. The results revealed that dietary supplementation with Cu-MMT significantly decreased the abundance of intestinal pathogens (Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridia). Concurrently, improvements in intestinal morphology were observed with Cu-MMT supplementation, characterized by elevated villus height and a higher villus height-to-crypt depth ratio. Furthermore, it reduced serum biomarkers of intestinal permeability (diamine oxidase and D-lactic acid), while upregulating the mRNA abundance of tight junction proteins (Zonula occludens-1 and occludin) and mucin-2. Furthermore, Cu-MMT outperformed MMT alone in promoting nutrient utilization, elevating digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, trypsin) activities, and upregulating key nutrient transporters (PepT1, Bo,+AT, ATBo,+, y+LAT2, and LAT1). The Cu-MMT supplementation significantly bolstered antioxidant defenses and mucosal immunity, as reflected by increased activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced malondialdehyde concentrations, and increased mRNA abundance of GSH-Px and mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A. Mechanistically, the beneficial effects of Cu-MMT on antioxidant capacity were primarily mediated through the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, Cu-MMT enhances the growth of broilers by enhancing intestinal barrier integrity, modulating gut microbiota, augmenting intestinal antioxidant capacity and promoting intestinal digestion and absorption functions, making it a promising feed additive. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9de11e47fda747a088937ce68ce27770 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0032-5791 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Poultry Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-9de11e47fda747a088937ce68ce277702025-08-20T03:40:45ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912025-10-011041010560810.1016/j.psj.2025.105608The effects of copper-loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology, microbiota, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and gut-related gene expression in broilersXinru Hu0Yiwen Rao1Peiqianng Yuan2Xingyong Chen3Cheng Zhang4College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaCorresponding author.; College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaIntestinal health is pivotal in modern poultry production, profoundly influencing growth performance and disease resistance. This study evaluated copper-loaded montmorillonite (Cu-MMT) as a novel feed additive to enhance gut health in broilers. A 21-day experiment was conducted using 270 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers, randomly divided to three dietary treatments: a basal diet, a group supplemented with 350 mg/kg MMT, and a group supplemented with 350 mg/kg Cu-MMT. The results revealed that dietary supplementation with Cu-MMT significantly decreased the abundance of intestinal pathogens (Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridia). Concurrently, improvements in intestinal morphology were observed with Cu-MMT supplementation, characterized by elevated villus height and a higher villus height-to-crypt depth ratio. Furthermore, it reduced serum biomarkers of intestinal permeability (diamine oxidase and D-lactic acid), while upregulating the mRNA abundance of tight junction proteins (Zonula occludens-1 and occludin) and mucin-2. Furthermore, Cu-MMT outperformed MMT alone in promoting nutrient utilization, elevating digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, trypsin) activities, and upregulating key nutrient transporters (PepT1, Bo,+AT, ATBo,+, y+LAT2, and LAT1). The Cu-MMT supplementation significantly bolstered antioxidant defenses and mucosal immunity, as reflected by increased activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced malondialdehyde concentrations, and increased mRNA abundance of GSH-Px and mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A. Mechanistically, the beneficial effects of Cu-MMT on antioxidant capacity were primarily mediated through the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, Cu-MMT enhances the growth of broilers by enhancing intestinal barrier integrity, modulating gut microbiota, augmenting intestinal antioxidant capacity and promoting intestinal digestion and absorption functions, making it a promising feed additive.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125008491BroilerCopper-loaded montmorilloniteIntestinal healthNrf2 signaling pathway |
| spellingShingle | Xinru Hu Yiwen Rao Peiqianng Yuan Xingyong Chen Cheng Zhang The effects of copper-loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology, microbiota, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and gut-related gene expression in broilers Poultry Science Broiler Copper-loaded montmorillonite Intestinal health Nrf2 signaling pathway |
| title | The effects of copper-loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology, microbiota, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and gut-related gene expression in broilers |
| title_full | The effects of copper-loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology, microbiota, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and gut-related gene expression in broilers |
| title_fullStr | The effects of copper-loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology, microbiota, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and gut-related gene expression in broilers |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of copper-loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology, microbiota, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and gut-related gene expression in broilers |
| title_short | The effects of copper-loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology, microbiota, barrier function, antioxidant capacity, and gut-related gene expression in broilers |
| title_sort | effects of copper loaded montmorillonite on intestinal morphology microbiota barrier function antioxidant capacity and gut related gene expression in broilers |
| topic | Broiler Copper-loaded montmorillonite Intestinal health Nrf2 signaling pathway |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125008491 |
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