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Effect of l-theanine on the growth performance, immune function, and jejunum morphology and antioxidant status of ducks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2018

C. Zhang ,
K. K. Chen ,
X. H. Zhao ,
C. Wang  and
Z. Y. Geng
C. Zhang*
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
K. K. Chen
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
X. H. Zhao
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
C. Wang
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
Z. Y. Geng
Affiliation:
College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
*
†E-mail: ZCTGBZ@163.com
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Abstract

l-theanine is a unique nonproteinogenic amino acid found in tea, and has recently received considerable attention because of its various biological activities. However, there is no available research report on the use of l-theanine as a feed additive in ducks. This study was conducted to investigate the potential benefits and appropriate dosages of l-theanine on the growth performance, immune function, serum biochemical parameters, and jejunum morphology and antioxidant capacity of ducks. A total of 600 1-day-old Chaohu ducks were randomly allocated into five dietary treatment groups supplemented with 0 (control group), 300, 600, 900 and 1500 mg/kg of l-theanine. Each group included five replicates of 24 birds each. Body weight at day 28 was increased (P<0.05) by l-theanine. From days 15 to 28, l-theanine elevated cumulative BW gain (BWG) and cumulative feed intake (FI), and decreased feed to gain ratio. From days 1 to 28, l-theanine elevated (P<0.05) cumulative BWG and cumulative FI. l-theanine elevated (P<0.05) the relative weight of bursa of Fabricus (day 14), thymus (day 14), spleen (day 28) and liver (day 28). On day 28, l-theanine decreased (P<0.05) serum glucose, uric acid, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-6 contents, and elevated (P<0.05) serum total protein, globulin (GLB), immune globulin A (IgA) and IgG contents, but only serum insulin, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6 contents was decreased (P<0.05) and serum GLB and IgM content was elevated (P<0.05) by l-theanine on day 14. On day 14, l-theanine decreased (P<0.05) jejunum crypt depth, and elevated (P<0.05) jejunum villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C), goblet cell number and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity. On day 28, l-theanine decreased (P<0.05) jejunum malondialdehyde content, and elevated (P<0.05) jejunum villus height, V/C, goblet cell number, and T-SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities. l-theanine levels caused quadratic effect on the growth performance, relative organ weight, serum parameters, jejunum morphology and antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, l-theanine can be used as a promising feed additive for ducks, and its optimal supplementation level was 600 to 900 mg/kg based on the current experimental condition.

Keywords

feed additiveintestineamino acidinterleukinimmunoglobulin
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 13 , Issue 6 , June 2019 , pp. 1145 - 1153
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2018 

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