Alterations of intestinal mucosal barrier, cecal microbiota diversity, composition, and metabolites of yellow-feathered broilers under chronic corticosterone-induced stress: a possible mechanism underlying the anti-growth performance and glycolipid metabolism disorder
Authors: Li Fei , Chen Xinyu , Xu Xingyu , Wang Lijun , Yan Jie , Yu Yichen , Shan Xuemei , Zhang Rui , Xing Hua , Zhang Tangjie , Pan Shifeng 
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to explore alterations in growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorders, intestinal mucosal barrier, cecal microbiota community, and metabolites in a chronic corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress (CCIS) broiler model. Results showed that compared with control (CON) broilers, in CCIS broilers: (i) the final body weight (BW), BW gain, and average daily gain were significantly reduced. (ii) The glycolipid metabolism disorder and impairement of intestinal immune barrier and physical barrier function were observed. (iii) Diversity and richness of cecal microbiota were obviously increased. From phylum to genus level, the abundances of
Firmicutes
and
Faecalibacterium
were significantly decreased, while the abundances of
Proteobacteria
,
RuminococcaceaeUCG-005
, and
Escherichia coli
(
Shigella
) were significantly increased. Microbial network analysis and function pathways prediction showed that cecal microbiota was mainly concentrated in translation, metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and endocrine system. (iv) The main differential metabolites identified include steroids and their derivatives, amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates; among which 37 metabolites were significantly upregulated, while 27 metabolites were significantly downregulated. These differential metabolites were mainly enriched in pathways related to steroid hormone biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism. (v) Correlation between cecal microbiota and glycolipid metabolism indexes showed that BW and total cholesterol (TC) were positively correlated with
Christensenellaceae_R.7_group
and
Escherichia_Shigella
, respectively. Furthermore, the downregulated
Faecalibacterium
and
Christensenellaceae
were negatively correlated with the upregulated differentially expressed metabolites. These findings suggested that CCIS altered cecal microbiota composition and metabolites, which led to glycolipid metabolism disorder and impaired the nutritional metabolism and immune homeostasis, providing a theoretical basis for efforts to eliminate the harm of chronic stress to human health and animal production.

IMPORTANCE

The study aimed to determine the influence of altered intestinal mucosal barrier, cecum flora community, and metabolites on anti-growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorders of chronic corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress (CCIS) broilers. Compared with control (CON) broilers, in CCIS broilers: (i) anti-growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorder, and impaired intestinal immune barrier and physical barrier function were observed. (ii) From phylum to genus level, the abundances of
Firmicutes
and
Faecalibacterium
were decreased; whereas, the abundances of
Proteobacteria, RuminococcaceaeUCG-005
, and
Escherichia coli
(
Shigella
) were increased. (iii) Differential metabolites in cecum were mainly enriched in steroid hormone biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism. (iv) Body weight (BW) and total cholesterol (TC) were positively correlated with
Christensenellaceae
_
R.7
_
group
and
Escherichia_Shigella
, respectively, while downregulated
Faecalibacterium
and
Christensenellaceae
were negatively correlated with upregulated metabolites. Our findings suggest that CCIS induces anti-growth performance and glycolipid metabolism disorder by altering cecum flora and metabolites, providing a theoretical basis for efforts to eliminate the effect of chronic stress on human health and animal production.