Protective effect ofon hepatic lipid accumulation in laying hens with fatty liver and the study of its mechanism.

Abstract

1.Thunb. (ACT) is a semi-scrubby herb from the Artemisia genus of the Asteraceae family that has hepatobiliary effects. This study evaluated the effect of ACT on hepatic lipid buildup in laying hens and, hence, as a feed additive to treat fatty liver in laying hens.2. Hens were randomly allocated into one of five treatment groups: positive control group (to 35 weeks of age; PC), fatty liver control group (to 75 weeks of age; 75W), ACT low-dose intervention (1 g/h/d) group (to 75 weeks of age; 75W+L), ACT medium-dose intervention (2 g/h/d) group (to 75 weeks of age; 75W+M) and ACT high-dose intervention (4 g/h/d) group (to 75 weeks of age; 75W+H).3. Feeding ACT decreased the liver index and tissue sections revealed that it minimised hepatocellular steatosis and vacuolar degeneration, considerably lowered liver indicator enzyme (aspartate transaminase, AST and alanine transaminase, ALT) concentrations and improved liver function. Regarding hepatic fat formation, ACT reduced the amount of lipid droplets in the liver; the ACT group dramatically lowered serum triglycerides (TG), serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In terms of reproductive hormone markers, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) and vitellogenin (VTG) levels were dramatically elevated, while oestradiol (E2) levels were decreased in hens fed the ACT diets.4. Cyberpharmacology and molecular docking revealed that ACT primary target was, which was able to reduceprotein phosphorylation as well as the protein expression of fatty acid synthesis-related genes,andin the liver.5. In conclusion, ACT was able to dramatically reduce the protein expression of fatty acid production genes, enhance hepatic lipid metabolism in laying hens, reverse hepatic and dyslipidemic abnormalities in laying hens and ameliorate fatty liver conditions.