Glycerol monolaurate attenuates necrotic enteritis in broilers by improving gut-liver health and remodeling the gut microbiota
Abstract
Background: Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a widespread avian intestinal disease that causes substantial economic losses in poultry production. With increasing restrictions on antibiotic use, sustainable alternatives are urgently needed. Glycerol monolaurate (GML) has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, but its role in preventing NE remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of GML on gut-liver health and the cecal microbiota in NE-challenged broilers.
Results: A total of 288 broilers were fed diets supplemented with 1,200 mg/kg GML for 21 d under an NE challenge model. GML improved the average daily gain and jejunal villus height while reducing the intestinal lesion score in NE broilers (P < 0.05). GML upregulated the expression of the tight junction genes OCLN and MUC2 and downregulated the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, as well as RELA and IRF5 (P < 0.05). Moreover, GML reduced endotoxin levels and alleviated oxidative stress in the jejunum of NE broilers. NE infection increases intestinal permeability, resulting in elevated serum proinflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, TNF-α) and intestinal-derived endotoxin levels, which subsequently contribute to liver injury. GML significantly alleviated this liver damage, as evidenced by reduced hepatic steatosis and lower serum alanine aminotransferase levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, GML relieved the NE-induced increase in serum…
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