Effects of oral butyrate application on insulin signaling in various tissues of chickens

The influence of butyrate on insulin signaling in chickens was studied because butyrate is produced during microbial fermentation in the large intestine of birds and butyrate is widely used as a feed additive in animal production. Ross 308 broiler chickens received a daily intra-ingluvial bolus of sodium butyrate (0.25 g/kg BW) on d 20-24 of life (n = 10). Plasma butyrate concentration increased after receiving oral butyrate treatment (P < 0.001). Oral butyrate application was associated with decreased protein expression of insulin receptor β subunit (IRβ) in liver (P = 0.008) and both abdominal (P = 0.003) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (P < 0.001), but with elevated IRβ expression in muscle (P = 0.045), assessed by Western blotting.
Source: Domestic Animal Endocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Source Type: research