Effect of combined maternal and post-hatch dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on broiler chicken Pectoralis major muscle growth characteristics and satellite cell activity

Authors: AVILA, LUIS - Auburn University; LEIVA, SAMUEL - Auburn University; ABASCAL-PONCIANO, GERARDO - Auburn University; FLEES, JOSHUA - Auburn University; SWEENEY, KELLY - University Of Georgia; WILSON, JEANNA - University Of Georgia; MELOCHE, KATHRYN - Auburn University; TURNR, BRADLEY - Dsm Nutritional Products, Ltd; LITTA, GILERTO - Dsm Nutritional Products, Ltd; WAGUESPACK-LEVY, APRIL - Dsm Nutritional Products, Ltd; Pokoo-Aikins, Anthony; STARKEY, CHARLES - Auburn University; STARKEY, JESSICA - Auburn University

Submitted to: Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/24/2022
Publication Date: 8/1/2022
Citation: Avila, L.P., Leiva, S.F., Abascal-Ponciano, G.A., Flees, J.J., Sweeney, K.M., Wilson, J.L., Meloche, K.J., Turnr, B.J., Litta, G., Waguespack-Levy, A.M., Pokoo-Aikins, A., Starkey, C.W., Starkey, J.D. 2022. Effect of combined maternal and post-hatch dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on broiler chicken Pectoralis major muscle growth characteristics and satellite cell activity. Animal Science. Volume 100, Issue 8, August 2022, skac192.. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac192.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac192

Interpretive Summary: The regeneration of muscle cells aids in muscle growth. Including a form of vitamin D (25OHD3) in the diet can affect muscle growth in broiler chickens. Research in other species has shown positive muscle responses in offspring when maternal diets are supplemented with 25OHD3. This study looked at the effect of maternal and post-hatch 25OHD3 use on the growth and action of breast meat muscles in broilers. Broiler breeder hens were fed one of two diets, a maternal treatment diet, or a maternal control diet. Their male broiler chick offspring (n = 400) hatched from eggs collected from 35 to 36 weeks of age, were reared in raised floor pens. Broilers were fed either a post-hatch treatment diet (P25OHD3) or a post-hatch control diet. Muscle was collected at days 4, 8, 15, 22 and 29 and stored until immune factors were studied. Data showed that 25OHD3 was transferred from maternal diet to the breeder egg yolk and from the post-hatch diet to broiler offspring plasma from day 4 to 22. Adding 25OHD3 to maternal diet or post-hatch diet changed breast meat growth before day 29 and reduced breast meat hardness severity. Muscle cell numbers increased in breast meat of maternal control and post-hatch fed broilers at day 4. At day 8, the breast meat muscle cell numbers increased 33% by P25OHD3. These results show that the addition of 25OHD3 in the diets improves broiler muscle cell growth.

Technical Abstract: Skeletal muscle growth and regeneration is dependent on the proliferation and differentiation of myogenic stem cells known as satellite cells (SC). Previous work has shown dietary inclusion of the vitamin D3 metabolite, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD3) can induce the expression of pro-myogenic factors, enhancing SC-mediated muscle growth in broiler chickens. Research in other species has established positive myogenic responses in progeny when maternal diets are supplemented with 25OHD3. To evaluate the effect of combined maternal and post-hatch dietary 25OHD3 supplementation on the growth and SC activity of the Pectoralis major (PM) muscles in broiler chickens, a randomized complete block design experiment with the main effects of maternal diet (MDIET) and post-hatch diet (PDIET) arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment structure was conducted. From 25 to 36 wk of age, broiler breeder hens were provided 1 of 2 MDIET: 5,000 IU D3 (MCTL) or 2,240 IU of D3 + 2,760 IU of 25OHD3 per kg of feed (M25OHD3). Their male broiler chick offspring (n = 400) hatched from eggs collected from 35 to 36 wk of age were reared in raised floor pens. Broilers were fed 1 of 2 PDIET: 5,000 IU of D3 per kg of feed (PCTL) or 2,240 IU of D3 + 2,760 IU of 25OHD3 per kg of feed (P25OHD3). Muscle was collected at d 4, 8, 15, 22 and 29 and stored until immunofluorescence analysis. Data were analyzed using SAS GLIMMIX and PDIFF for mean separation. 25OHD3 was effectively transferred from maternal diet to the breeder egg yolk (P = 0.002) and from the post-hatch diet to broiler progeny plasma (d 4 to 22; P = 0.044). Including 25OHD3 in either MDIET or PDIET altered PM hypertrophic growth prior to d 29 (P = 0.001) and tended to reduce Wooden Breast severity (P = 0.089). Mitotic SC populations were increased in PM of MCTL:P25OHD3 and M25OHD:PCTL-fed broilers at d 4 (P = 0.037). At d 8, the PM mitotic SC populations were increased 33% by P25OHD3 (P = 0.054). These results indicate that dietary inclusion of 25OHD3 plays a positive role in SC-mediated broiler muscle growth.