Poultry Science最新文献

{"title":"Anthelmintic effects of Artemisia herba-alba and Artemisia judaica extracts on Ascaridia galli in poultry","authors":"Anas Abdelqader ,&nbsp;Zeinab Mahasneh ,&nbsp;Samah Albataineh ,&nbsp;Lana Abdelhafiz","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106594","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106594","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessment of antiparasitic efficacy of <em>Artemisia herba-alba</em> and <em>Artemisia judaica</em> using <em>in vitro, in silico</em>, and animal-based models against <em>Ascaridia galli</em> was conducted. Ethanolic extracts from each <em>Artemisia</em> species were separately prepared in 0.5% DMSO. For the <em>in vitro</em> analysis, a total of 180 adult <em>Ascaridia galli</em> worms were harvested from naturally infected chicks and randomly assigned into four equal groups. Group 1 received Fenbendazole (0.5 mg/mL), Group 2 was treated with <em>A. herba-alba</em> extract (50 mg/mL), Group 3 with <em>A. Judaica</em> extract (50 mg/mL), and Group 4 served as the control, exposed to 0.5% DMSO. All treatments were applied for a duration of 13 hours. For the <em>in vivo</em> investigation, 540 <em>A. galli</em>-infected chicks were divided into six equally sized groups. Groups 1 and 2 received <em>A. herba-alba</em> at 1000 and 3000 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Similarly, Groups 3 and 4 were treated with <em>A. Judaica</em> at 1000 and 3000 mg/kg. Group 5 was administered Fenbendazole (50 mg/kg) as a positive control, while Group 6 served as the untreated control. Both <em>A. herba-alba</em> and <em>A. Judaica</em> significantly inhibited worm motility <em>in vitro</em> compared to the control group. Fenbendazole achieved 100% inhibition (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), while <em>A. herba-alba</em> showed 30.1% inhibition (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and <em>A. Judaica</em> demonstrated 23.1% inhibition (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). At 14 days post-treatment, <em>Artemisia</em>-treated groups showed a significant decrease in female fecundity, fecal egg count (FEC), and worm burden relative to the control group. Notably, there was no significant variation (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05) based on the <em>Artemisia</em> species or dose level used. In vitro exposure of nematodes to <em>A. judaica</em> and <em>A. herba-alba</em> extracts resulted in a significant, time-dependent reduction in worm motility compared with control treatments, whereas fenbendazole induced rapid and complete immobilization; no significant differences were observed between the two herbal extracts. Molecular docking analysis indicates that camphor demonstrated robust affinity score of -6.25 kcal/mol against ATP synthase, while camphor against glutathione transferase showed promising interactions with an affinity score of -6.90 kcal/mol. In conclusion, extracts of <em>A. herba-alba</em> and <em>A. Judaica</em> demonstrate significant potential as effective and suitable alternatives for managing <em>A. galli</em> infections in poultry by targeting ATP synthase and glutathione transferase in <em>A. galli</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106594"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative efficacy of oral and cloacal administration of Lactobacillus probiotics and postbiotics against Campylobacter jejuni colonization in broiler chickens","authors":"Shreeya Sharma ,&nbsp;Hosni Hassan ,&nbsp;Khaled Abdelaziz","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Campylobacter jejuni</em> remains a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide, with poultry serving as the primary reservoir. In the absence of commercial vaccines or effective feed additives, probiotics and their byproducts (postbiotics) represent a promising and sustainable approach to reducing <em>Campylobacter</em> colonization in poultry. This study compared the efficacy of oral and cloacal administration of probiotic lactobacilli and their postbiotics in reducing <em>Campylobacter</em> colonization and modulating the cecal microbiome in broiler chickens. Day-old chicks were assigned to seven treatment groups that received either probiotics (live cells of four poultry-derived <em>Lactobacillus</em> strains: <em>L. reuteri</em> P43, <em>L. acidophilus</em> P42, <em>L. animalis</em> P38, and <em>L. crispatus</em> C25) or postbiotics (<em>Lactobacillus</em> supernatants) or their combination (whole cultures) orally or intracloacally, with a non-treated group serving as a control. Chickens were challenged with <em>C. jejuni</em> strain 81-176 at the second week of age, and cecal contents were collected at the fifth week for <em>Campylobacter</em> enumeration and microbiome profiling. The results revealed that both oral and cloacal administration of <em>Lactobacillus</em> cells significantly reduced <em>Campylobacter</em> cecal loads by 0.34 and 0.78 log₁₀, respectively, compared to the control. Significant differences in microbial richness and evenness were observed among treatment groups, with groups administered orally with probiotics, postbiotics, or their combination consistently showing higher alpha diversity indices than controls. NMDS ordination confirmed distinct community clustering among the treatment groups. Differential abundance analysis (MaAsLin2) further revealed that <em>Ruminococcus</em> was significantly enriched in the group receiving intracloacal postbiotic treatment, whereas the genus <em>unclassified Firmicutes</em> was more abundant in the group that received the combined probiotic–postbiotic treatment orally. Opportunistic genera, such as <em>Escherichia-Shigella</em> and <em>Faecalicoccus,</em> were significantly higher in the control group compared to all treated groups. Overall, while probiotics and postbiotics, whether given alone or together, modulated the gut microbial composition in <em>Campylobacter</em>-infected broilers, the administration of probiotic cells offered additional benefits by reducing <em>Campylobacter</em> colonization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106576"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146143248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Follicle stimulating hormone stimulates farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 expression through LSD1Ser54p in chicken ovarian granulosa cells","authors":"Yanhong Zhang ,&nbsp;Min Zhang ,&nbsp;Qingxin Liu ,&nbsp;Yunliang Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106538","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106538","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ovarian follicular development in laying hens is tightly regulated by a variety of endocrine and cellular factors, among which follicle-stimulating hormone (<strong>FSH</strong>) plays a decisive role. Our previous study demonstrated that phosphorylation of LSD1 at serine 54 (<strong>LSD1Ser54p</strong>) level increases after follicle selection, and FSH induces LSD1Ser54p in chicken hierarchical follicular granulosa cells (<strong>Post-GCs</strong>), suggesting a critical role of LSD1Ser54p in chicken follicle selection. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we first determined the expression pattern of LSD1Ser54p in follicular tissues and confirmed its role in reducing the levels of H3K4me1/2 and H3K9me1/2 in Post-GCs. By integrating transcriptome sequencing and CUT&amp;Tag chromatin analysis, we identified genes that are targeted by FSH and directly bound by LSD1Ser54p, with farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 (<strong><em>FDFT1</em></strong>) being selected for further investigations. In depth analysis of the histone modification status at the <em>FDFT1</em> promoter revealed that LSD1Ser54p specifically removes H3K9me1/2 methylation, thereby alleviating chromatin repression and activating <em>FDFT1</em> transcription, which ultimately promotes the cholesterol synthesis. Our findings reveal an epigenetic regulatory pathway—the FSH-LSD1Ser54p-H3K9me1/2-<em>FDFT1</em> axis—operating during chicken follicle selection, providing new molecular insights into avian reproductive physiology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106538"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prediction of dietary digestible phosphorus in broilers diets: Insights from a meta-analysis","authors":"Alexandre Bonadiman Mariani ,&nbsp;Agnès Narcy ,&nbsp;Vahid Khaksar ,&nbsp;Maamer Jlali ,&nbsp;Marie-Pierre Létourneau-Montminy","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Optimizing dietary phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) levels in broiler is essential for improving nutrient utilization and minimizing environmental impact. This study aimed to develop a predicative equation for apparent precaecal digestible P (PCdigP) in broiler diets based on a meta-analysis using 343 treatments from 48 publications, in relation to dietary Ca, phytate-phosphorus (PP), non-phytate phosphorus (NPP), and microbial phytase (MPhy). Nutrient values were standardized using feed composition tables to ensure consistency across datasets. A generalized linear mixed model was applied, considering the experiment as a random effect. Results indicated that NPP was the most significant predictor of PCdigP, while increasing dietary Ca had a negative effect (<em>P</em> = 0.007). Increasing phytate-P increased PCdigP even without phytase, indicating that part of the P can be used by birds. When MPhy is supplemented, an interaction showed that increasing PP increased digestibility but this effect is not linear (interaction PP x MPhy x MPhy), which highlights the importance of phytase in high-PP diets. A three-way interaction among Ca, NPP, and MPhyt (<em>P</em> = 0.04) confirmed the complex nutrient interactions influencing PCdigP. The developed model was then validated through an in vivo experiment with 576 one-day Ross broilers subjected to eight dietary treatments with varying PCdigP levels. Apparent prececal digestible P measurements were compared to predicted values, demonstrating moderately high accuracy (R² = 55.6%). Including experimentally determined PP disappearance in the model improved the accuracy to 82.7%, highlighting the model’s limitations in fully capturing animals adaptive responses to extreme diets. Evaluation metrics confirmed the robustness of the model (RMSPE = 16,0%), which outperformed alternative models based on available phosphorus (aP) and NPP-based predictions. In conclusion, the proposed PCdigP model is a reliable tool for broiler diet formulation by integrating key dietary variables and their interactions, enabling robust predictions based on standard chemical analysis of the complete diet. However, caution is needed when applying the model to diets with extreme NPP and Ca levels, as physiological adaptations may affect digestibility responses not captured by the model.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106382"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Research note: Time of day and age affect hen activity patterns in two designs of cage-free aviaries","authors":"Xiaowen Ma ,&nbsp;Janice M. Siegford ,&nbsp;Vrinda Ambike ,&nbsp;Jacquelyn A. Jacobs ,&nbsp;Janice C. Swanson ,&nbsp;Tina M. Widowski ,&nbsp;Ahmed B.A. Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106550","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106550","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The laying hen industry is transitioning to cage-free housing, including multi-tiered aviaries, yet research on how aviary configuration influences movement is limited. We examined activity patterns in hens acclimating to two aviary designs. We hypothesized that hen age, time of day (TOD), and aviary design would influence activity. A total of 2,464 Hy-Line Brown hens were placed in two aviary designs (N60 and STEP) at 16 weeks of age (WOA), each replicated across two rooms with four pens per room. The two designs varied in litter accessibility and nest placement. At 18, 28, and 59 WOA, two focal hens per pen (n = 32/WOA) were fitted with triaxial accelerometers. Activity was analyzed for four one-hour periods on the recording day: 1 hour after lights on (morning), 1 hour during noon feeding (noon), 1 hour without management events (afternoon), and 1 hour before lights off (evening). A generalized linear mixed model was used to test the effects of design, age, and TOD, with room and individual hen included as random effects. Horizontal activity showed a significant age × TOD × design interaction (p &lt; 0.0001). Evening consistently had the highest horizontal activity, while morning was typically lowest, except in specific age × design combinations. Vertical activity also showed a significant three-way interaction (p &lt; 0.0001). Vertical activity peaked at 28 WOA across TOD and designs and was lowest at 18 WOA across most TOD in both designs. In summary, horizontal and vertical activity patterns were influenced by the combined effects of age, TOD, and aviary design. The significant three-way interactions indicate that these effects were context-dependent, with movement patterns shaped by the interplay of daily routines, housing design, and age of hens rather than any single factor alone.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106550"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146126381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The adiponectin receptor agonist AdipoRon alleviates lipotoxic injury in LMH cells","authors":"Xinhong Luan ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Xing ,&nbsp;Ben Ma,&nbsp;Qianhui Wang,&nbsp;Yixin Pan,&nbsp;Zihan Zhu,&nbsp;Ming Zu,&nbsp;Meihan Zhao,&nbsp;Zhongzan Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Avian fatty liver disease is a metabolic disease characterized by hepatocellular steatosis caused by fat deposition due to lipid metabolism disorders in poultry. AdipoRon, an adiponectin receptor agonist, has various biological effects, such as regulating glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, increasing insulin sensitivity, improving liver fat accumulation, and preventing inflammation and oxidative stress. Our previous study revealed that AdipoRon protected against liver injury induced by a high-fat diet and lipopolysaccharide in poultry. In this study, leghorn male hepatoma (LMH) cells were used to construct a lipotoxic injury model with mixed fatty acids (oleic acid + palmitic acid), and AdipoRon was subsequently used to intervene, followed by inhibition and activation of AMPK signaling pathways using an antagonist and agonist of AMPK, respectively, to detect lipid content and lipid deposition, hepatocyte injury-related transaminase activity, and the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes and key signaling molecules that regulate lipid metabolism, as well as the cellular lipid composition in LMH cells. AdipoRon promoted fatty acid oxidation, reduced lipid synthesis and deposition, and alleviated mixed fatty acid-induced lipotoxic injury through the regulation of the expression of adiponectin receptors, AMPK, PPARα, and key genes involved in lipid metabolism. The inhibition or activation of AMPK signaling pathways could regulate the expression of AdipoR1, AdipoR2, AMPK and p-AMPK, thereby altering the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes and antagonizing or synergistically increasing the ameliorative effects of AdipoRon on cellular lipid metabolism disorders, lipid deposition and cell injury. Lipidomic analysis further suggested that AdipoRon could regulate the metabolism of lipids such as sphingolipids, glycerophospholipids, acylcarnitines, and glycerolipids; reduce the accumulation of lipids such as ceramides, sphingomyelins, triacylglycerol, and acylcarnitines; maintain the metabolic homeostasis of phosphatidylamine and phosphatidylcholine, as well as cell membrane structural integrity and functional stability; and mitigate lipotoxic injury in LMH cells. This study provides new insights into targeted interventions involving adiponectin and its receptors to prevent and treat avian fatty liver disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106573"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146132815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptomics and metabolomics provide insights into meat flavor precursor differences between different duck lines","authors":"Shiwei Li ,&nbsp;Sike Wang ,&nbsp;Weiling Huang ,&nbsp;Yaomei Wang ,&nbsp;Yuchen Zhang ,&nbsp;Chao Jia ,&nbsp;Zongliang He ,&nbsp;Guansuo Wu ,&nbsp;Ziheng Zhou ,&nbsp;Debing Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106488","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106488","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Based on transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, this study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying meat flavor precursor differences in breast muscle between two duck lines (AB and DD) of Jinling White duck. At 49 days of age, compared with the faster-growing DD line, the slower-growing AB line exhibited higher pH value and higher fatty acid content in breast muscle. Integrated omics analysis identified 610 differentially expressed genes and 139 differential metabolites, highlighting key pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism. Key genes (<em>PCYT1B, PLA2G12B</em>) and metabolites (e.g., phosphatidylcholine) were identified as crucial for flavor precursors formation. This study provides insights into flavor regulation and supports genetic improvement for duck meat quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106488"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146132825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Two kinds of novel reassortment H3 subtypes of avian influenza viruses: similar genetic composition, different mammalian transmission capabilities","authors":"Xinyu Han ,&nbsp;Muhui Zhong ,&nbsp;Yujia Yang ,&nbsp;Shunyin Fang ,&nbsp;Yuting Shi ,&nbsp;Yaozhong Lin ,&nbsp;Xinkui Zhang ,&nbsp;Wenqi Wu ,&nbsp;Qinglong Wang ,&nbsp;Beibei Niu ,&nbsp;Qiuhong Huang ,&nbsp;Huifang Yin ,&nbsp;Ming Liao ,&nbsp;Weixin Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106564","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106564","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To assess the potential threat of the novel H3 subtype Avian Influenza Virus <strong>(AIV)</strong> to the poultry industry and human health, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic tree and homology analysis were conducted on four H3N3 viruses and one H3N8 virus isolated from three different regions. Representative strains were selected for the study of pathogenicity and transmissibility in Specific Pathogen Free <strong>(SPF)</strong> chickens, BALB/c mice, and Hartley guinea pigs. Phylogenetic tree and homology analyses indicate that the eight gene segments of the four H3N3 viruses are derived from reassortments involving H3N8 virus (HA gene), H10N3 virus (NA gene), and H9N2 virus (internal genes). Additionally, the gene segments of one H3N8 strain are the result of reassortment between H3N8 virus (HA and NA genes) and H9N2 virus (internal genes). Multiple mammalian-adaptive mutations were detected in the gene fragments, including amino acid substitutions and alterations in glycosylation sites. Animal experimental results indicate that the B166 (H3N3) and K245 (H3N8) isolates were pathogenic to SPF chickens and BALB/c mice, and were also capable of infecting Hartley guinea pigs. Both strains transmitted among chickens, with B166 displaying slightly lower transmissibility than K245. However, only K245 was transmissible via direct contact in Hartley guinea pigs. This highlights the potential public health risks of H3 subtype viruses, posing a threat to the poultry industry and human health, which makes ongoing monitoring and further research crucial.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106564"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146132890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Growth performance and antioxidant response of broiler chicken fed oxidized lipids with or without phytogenic feed additives","authors":"Fernando Sevillano ,&nbsp;Alexis J. Maldonado-Ortiz ,&nbsp;Javier Herrero-Encinas ,&nbsp;Ana I. Rey ,&nbsp;David Menoyo","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106570","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106570","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this study was to test the <em>in vivo</em> antioxidant capacity in broilers of two phytogenic additives, one derived from olive pomace (OE) and an encapsulated product based on <em>Capsicum sp.</em>, black pepper, and ginger (SPICY), in a challenge using oxidized lipids in the feed. A total of 720 one-day-old male Cobb 500 were allocated to 72 pens (8 treatments, 9 replicates, 10 birds/replicate). The treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial, the factors being: fat source (4% soybean oil or 4% peroxidized soybean oil); SPICY (0 or 250 ppm); and OE (0 or 3077 ppm). From 1 to 21 days (global period) no significant differences were observed on performance. Broilers fed peroxidized oil showed higher plasma ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP; <em>P &lt;</em> 0.05) values and higher catalase (CAT) activity compared to those fed fresh oil except in those birds fed the OE which remained constant with both oil sources (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.05 for the interaction). Broilers fed OE showed a significant lower CAT gene expression in the liver (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.05). Moreover, the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene expression was lower in birds fed fresh oil and OE compared to those fed fresh oil without OE but higher in birds fed peroxidized oil and OE compared to those fed peroxidized oil without OE (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.05 for the interaction). By contrast, broilers fed SPICY upregulated CAT (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.05) and downregulated HSP70 (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.05) gene expression in the liver compared to those not supplemented with SPICY. In conclusion, feeding broilers with peroxidized soybean oil from 1 to 21 days of age did not affect the productive parameters. However, the presence of lipid peroxidation products in the feed triggered both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant responses to maintain the oxidant/antioxidant balance. In the case of birds fed the OE, the enzymatic antioxidant response was more attenuated, indicating a better control of oxidative stress, likely mediated by HSP70.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106570"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sport improves function of roosters testicular Leydig cells by mediating FUNDC1","authors":"Yuqi Chen ,&nbsp;Xinyue Zhao ,&nbsp;Jie Zheng ,&nbsp;Yao Zhang ,&nbsp;Hao Chen ,&nbsp;Can Cui ,&nbsp;Chunlin Yu ,&nbsp;Chaowu Yang ,&nbsp;Huadong Yin ,&nbsp;Shunshun Han","doi":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106541","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psj.2026.106541","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Roosters play a crucial role in breeder chicken production. A decline in reproductive performance during the late breeding stage is a major factor limiting economic returns. Testosterone, a key hormone for maintaining secondary sexual characteristics and supporting spermatogenesis, is primarily synthesized and processed within mitochondria. With advancing age, mitochondrial function deteriorates in roosters, leading to reduced testosterone synthesis and impaired reproductive capacity. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms through which rest and sport affect the reproductive performance of aging roosters. A total of 36 Tianfu Pink roosters aged 110 weeks were allocated into three groups with three replicates per group. After a 4-week intervention involving rest and sport regimens, natural mating was conducted to collect reproductive performance data. The results showed that rest and sport exerted anti-inflammatory effects, significantly improved semen quality and hatching performance, increased serum levels of testosterone and gonadotropins, enhanced systemic antioxidant capacity, and markedly upregulated <em>FUNDC1</em> expression in the testes. In primary chicken testicular interstitial cells, overexpression or knockdown of <em>FUNDC1</em> significantly enhanced or suppressed mitochondrial function, as well as the expression of genes and proteins related to antioxidant defense and testosterone synthesis. Moreover, <em>FUNDC1</em> overexpression alleviated rotenone-induced mitochondrial damage and restored testosterone synthesis in testicular interstitial cells. These findings suggest that sport may enhance testosterone synthesis in testicular interstitial cells by modulating <em>FUNDC1</em> expression, thereby improving mitochondrial function and antioxidant defense. This study provides theoretical and technical insights for improving the reproductive performance of breeding roosters during the late production phase.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20459,"journal":{"name":"Poultry Science","volume":"105 4","pages":"Article 106541"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}