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Linoleic acid (LA) is predominantly essential for poultry. Poultry lacking LA show retarded growth and reduced disease resistance. Intestinal barrier function plays an important role in pigeon squab growth, whereas research on the effects of LA on intestinal health in altrices is scant. Considering that squabs are fed by their parents, the study aimed to explore the effects of maternal dietary LA on intestinal morphology, tight junction proteins, immune cytokines and microbial flora in squabs. A completely randomised design with a control group, 1 % LA supplementation group, 2 % LA supplementation group and 4 % LA supplementation group was used. Six squabs from each treatment were randomly sampled at 21 d post-hatching. The results indicated that LA supplementation improved intestinal morphology, as reflected by increased villus height, villus area and the ratio of villi to crypts. Also, 1 % LA supplementation elevated the density of goblet cells in the intestine and strengthened tight junctions by up-regulating claudin-3 and occludin gene expression but down-regulating claudin-2 gene expression. Moreover, 1 % LA supplementation reduced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and partly increased anti-inflammatory cytokines. The intestinal microbial diversity in the 1 % LA supplementation group was higher than that in the other groups. As beneficial bacteria, Butyrivibrio was the biomarker of 1 % LA supplementation. However, excessive (4 %) LA supplementation led to adverse impacts on intestinal immunity and microbiota. In conclusion, maternal dietary LA might alter intestinal barrier function in pigeon squabs in a dose-dependent manner. Supplementation with 1 % LA was suggested in parental pigeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Flos populi is an important traditional Chinese medicine prepared from the male inflorescence of Populus tomentosa Carr. or Populus canadensis Moench (Salicaceae family). Flos populi is mainly used for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases and anti diarrhea in East Asian countries. The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the aqueous extract of Flos populi (FPAE). Materials and methods: Cotton pellets-induced granuloma, carrageenan-induced paw oedema, arachidonic acid-induced right ear oedema and xylene-induced ear oedema were used to assess anti-inflammatory activity of FPAE and analgesic activity was evaluated by hot plate test, acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test and formalin test. Results: FPAE produced significant dose–response anti-inflammatory activity against cotton pellets-induced granuloma. FPAE at dosages of 50, 100 and 200mg/kgbw. significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema by 48.84% (P<0.05), 54.95% (P<0.05), and 62.05% (P<0.05) at 5h after carrageenan injection, respectively. FPAE significantly (P<0.05) reduced the ear oedema induced by arachidonic acid and peaked at the dose of 200mg/kgbw. (40.78%). A significant (P<0.05) dose dependent inhibition of xylene-induced oedema was produced by FPAE and peaked at the highest dose of 200mg/kgbw. (23.95%). FPAE (50, 100 and 200mg/kgbw.) produced significant dose–response analgesic activity in the hot-plate test. However, the low percentage inhibition (<50%) suggests that it is not a centrally acting analgesic. Extract at dosages of 50, 100 and 200mg/kgbw., p.o. significantly reduced acetic acid-induced writhing by 39.6% (P<0.05), 45.4% (P<0.05), and 51.8% (P<0.05), respectively. The extract also caused marked dose-dependent inhibition of formalin-induced pain in the second phase (P<0.05). Conclusion: The findings in this study suggest that the aqueous extract of Flos populi possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. These results may support the fact that this plant is used traditionally to cure inflammatory diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]