Dietary n-3 fatty acids reduce the delayed hypersensitivity reaction and antibody production more than n-6 fatty acids in broiler birds

✍ Scribed by Ramesh Kumar Selvaraj; Gita Cherian

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 73 KB
• Volume: 106
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1438-7697
• DOI: 10.1002/ejlt.200300848

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The splenocyte fatty acid profile and immune response of broiler chickens were investigated. One hundred and twenty day‐old broiler chicks were fed diets containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (Diet I), sunflower oil (Diet II), flaxseed oil (Diet III) or fish oil (Diet IV). The total lipid content of the diets was 3.5%. Body weight and feed intake was higher (P <0.05) in Diet IV compared to Diets I, II and III. Birds fed Diet III and IV had a higher content of n‐3 fatty acids in splenocytes than those fed Diets I and II. Serum anti‐BSA immunoglobulin content was higher (P <0.05) in birds fed Diets III and IV, compared to those fed Diets I and II. Delayed type hypersensitivity response, measured as the wing web skin swelling reaction (thickness) to Mycobacterium butyricum injection (s.c.), increased (P <0.05) from 0.71 and 0.98 mm in Diets IV and III, respectively, to 1.19 and 1.41 mm in Diets I and II, respectively. The number of CD4^+^ and CD8^+^ blood lymphocytes and CD4^+^, CD8^+^ and IgM^+^ splenocytes did not differ (P >0.05) between treatment groups. N‐3 fatty acids increased production performances and antibody mediated responses, while n‐6 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid increased cell mediated responses in broiler birds.