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Effect of dietary lutein on the egg production, fertility, and oxidative injury indexes of aged hens |
N. Liu1,2,* 
, X. Ji1
, Z. Song1
, X. Deng2
, J. Wang1
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1Department of Animal Science, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471000, China
2National Engineering Research Center of Biological Feed, Beijing 100081, China |
Correspondence:
N. Liu, Tel: +86-379-6428-2341, Fax: +86-379-6428-2341, Email: ningliu68@163.com
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Received: 18 December 2022 • Revised: 20 February 2023 • Accepted: 9 March 2023 |
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| Abstract |
Objective
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary lutein on egg production, follicles, reproductive hormones, fertility, hatchability, and oxidative injury indexes of hens.
Methods
Treatments consisted of a control diet (CON) and three lutein-supplementing diets at 25 (L1), 50 (L2), or 75 (L3) mg/kg of diet. Egg production was measured using 576 Arbor Acres breeder hens at 61 to 65 wk and follicles grades, reproductive hormones, fertility, hatchability, tissue lutein contents, and oxidative injury indexes were determined at 65 wk.
Results
The results showed that at 65 wk, lutein- supplementing diets increased (p<0.05) egg production, follicular grades, fertility, hatchability, estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone, progesterone (PROG), lutein content in the serum and yolk, compared to CON. L2 and L3 showed more pronounced (p<0.05) effects on egg production, PROG, and yolk lutein content than L1. With the increase of lutein doses from 25 to 75 mg/kg, there were linear increases (p<0.05) in egg production, lutein content, and PROG, and a quadratic trend (p<0.05) in E2. For the oxidative injury products, lutein-supplementing diets decreased (p<0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) in the serum, MDA and 8-hydroxy 2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the yolk. There were linear decreases (p<0.05) in 8-OHdG in the serum, MDA, PCO, and 8-OHdG in the yolk, a quadratic trend (p<0.05) on serum 8-OHdG.
Conclusion
It is concluded that lutein supplementation can improve egg production and fertility by beneficially regulating reproductive hormones and oxidative status in aged hens. |
| Keywords:
Aged Hen; Egg Production; Fertility; Lutein; Oxidative Injury Index |
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