Resveratrol and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid supplementation promotes ileal development and digestive function by altering microbial community abundance and metabolites in Tibetan sheep.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The effects of resveratrol (RES) and &#x3b2;-hydroxy-&#x3b2;-methylbutyric acid (HMB) on phenotype, immunity, digestive enzyme activity and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) contents in ileum of Tibetan sheep were investigated. METHODS: A total of 120 two-month-old Tibetan sheep (15.5&#x202f;&#xb1;&#x202f;0.14&#x202f;kg) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments: control group (basal diet), RES group (basal diet +1.5&#x202f;g RES/d), HMB group (basal diet +1.25&#x202f;g HMB/d), RES-HMB group (basal diet +1.5&#x202f;g RES/d&#x202f;+&#x202f;1.25&#x202f;g HMB/d). RESULTS: Results indicated that dietary RES and (or) HMB supplementation significantly improved the phenotype (mucosal thickness and villus width), SCFAs concentrations, and digestive enzymes (lipase, cellulase, and-amylase) (&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05). The relative abundance of,, andwere increased, while the abundance ofandwere decreased (&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05) in the RES-HMB group. The metabolic profiling indicated an increase in the differential metabolites (DMs) including L-arginine, butanoic acid, D-mannose, and retinol were increased in the RES-HMB group (&#x202f;<&#x202f;0.05). DISCUSSION: In summary, our results suggested that RES and (or) HMB supplementation improved SCFAs concentration by up-regulating the microbial community abundance (,, and) and metabolism (L-arginine, butanoic acid, D-mannose, and retinol), thus contributing to ileal morphology and digestive enzyme activity. These findings may provides a novel reference for the nutritional regulation to improve the production of Tibetan sheep.