The Effects of Supplementing Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in the Diet on Production Performance, Fat Digestibility, Blood Lipid Profile, and Gene Expression Related to Nutrients Transport in Small Intestine of Laying Hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) supplementation on egg production, fat digestibility, blood lipid profile and gene expression related to nutrients transport in brown egglaying hens.In total, 384 commercial laying hens were divided into 4 groups (8 replicates, 12 animals each): 1. positive control (PC), 2. negative control (reduced energy to 75 ME kcal/kg; NC), 3. NC-LPC 0.05%, and 4. NC-LPC 0.1%, accordingly to a completely randomized design.There were no significant effects on productive performance during 33-41 weeks of age.Feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the NC group in comparison to the PC group during 42-49 weeks of age.Supplementation of LPC (at both levels) significantly reduced feed intake and FCR (P < 0.05).Consequently, it significantly reduced feed cost per egg weight (P < 0.05).In animals supplemented with LPC increased (P < 0.05) digestibilities of dietary fat, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride and cholesterol in blood were found.The expression of gene BAT in the epithelial layer of the jejunum significantly increased in the NC group, however it decreased in the NC-LPC 0.1% group (P < 0.05).The expression of CAT-1 gene in the NC-LPC 0.1% group was higher than that of the PC group (P < 0.05).The supplemental LPC (both levels) also significantly increased the expression of the NPC1 gene in comparison to the NC group (P < 0.05).So, supplementation of LPC to the diet improved the feed efficiency via the increase of fat digestibility and the uptake of some amino acids or cholesterol to the enterocyte up-regulating the expression of some amino acids and cholesterol transporter genes.