Effects of pectic oligosaccharide on growth performance, organ indexes and intestinal health in broilers exposed to aflatoxin B1

This study aimed at investigating the influences of pectic oligosaccharide (POS) on growth performance, organ indexes and intestinal health in broilers exposed to aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). In vitro experiment was conducted to assess reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging ability of POS. In vivo experiment was then implemented by allocating 320 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers to 4 groups (8 replicates/group), according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with POS addition (0 or 400 mg/kg) and AFB₁ exposure (with or without) as the two factors. All parameters were determined on d 21. The results revealed an in vitro ability of POS to scavenge ROS. AFB₁ exposure tended to decrease (P < 0.10) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI), as well as caused abnormities in liver, thymus and bursal indexes. It also elevated (P < 0.05) intestinal ROS and malondialdehyde contents but reduced (P < 0.05) intestinal catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities, as well as caused intestinal injuries including the decreasing trends (P < 0.10) of ileal villus height:crypt depth ratio and the relative mRNA expression of claudin-1 together with the increasing trend (P < 0.10) of serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity. POS addition tended to elevate (P < 0.10) ADG and ADFI, as well as mitigated AFB₁-induced elevation (P < 0.10) in spleen index and reduction (P < 0.05) of bursal index. Moreover, POS addition tended to enhance (P < 0.10) ileal total antioxidant capacity in AFB₁-exposed broilers. Besides, POS addition lowered (P < 0.05) ROS level and increased (P < 0.05) glutathione content in ileum, as well as showed a tendency (P < 0.10) to elevate ileal claudin-1 expression and decrease serum DAO activity of broilers regardless of AFB₁ exposure. Collectively, supplemental POS benefited growth performance and organ indexes of broilers exposed to AFB₁, which could attribute to its ability to ameliorate intestinal redox state and integrity. These findings underscore a potential of POS to attenuate the detriments of AFB₁ contamination in diets.