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The aim of this study was designed to select housekeeping genes for quantitative gene expression analysis in yellow-feathered broilers. Twelve 3-week-old chickens were randomly selected from 60 yellow-feathered broilers. Then, 12 chickens were killed; the liver and jejunum samples were collected. The gene expression of housekeeping genes (b-actin, ACTB; glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase, GAPDH; hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase 1, HPRT1; ribosomal protein L13, RPL13; TATA box binding protein, TBP; hydroxymethylbilane synthase, HMBS) were determined using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the expression stabilities of housekeeping genes were analysed using geNorm, Normfinder and BestKeeper programs. The result showed that RPL13 is the most proper gene in liver, GADPH is the most proper gene in jejunum, and HMBS is the most proper gene in all tissues. In conclusion, this result provides the integrated reported evaluation of housekeeping genes for use in expression studies in yellow-feathered broilers. These findings further emphasise the need to accurately validate candidate housekeeping genes in the study before use in gene expression studies using RT-PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effects of xanthophyll supplementation on production performance, antioxidant capacity (measured by glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and reduced glutathione:oxidised glutathione ratio (GSH:GSSG)) and lipid peroxidation (measured by malondialdehyde (MDA)) in breeding hens and chicks. In Expt 1, 432 hens were fed diets supplemented with 0 (control group), 20 or 40 mg xanthophyll/kg diet. Blood samples were taken at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 d of the trial. Liver and jejunal mucosa were sampled at 35 d. Both xanthophyll groups improved serum SOD at 21 and 28 d, serum T-AOC at 21 d and liver T-AOC, and serum GSH:GSSG at 21, 28 and 35 d and liver GSH:GSSG. Xanthophylls also decreased serum MDA at 21 d in hens. Expt 2 was a 2 × 2 factorial design. Male chicks hatched from 0 or 40 mg in ovo xanthophyll/kg diet of hens were fed a diet containing either 0 or 40 mg xanthophyll/kg diet. Liver samples were collected at 0, 7, 14 and 21 d after hatching. Blood samples were also collected at 21 d. In ovo-deposited xanthophylls increased antioxidant capacity and decreased MDA in the liver mainly within 1 week after hatching. Maternal effects gradually vanished during 1–2 weeks after hatching. Dietary xanthophylls increased antioxidant capacity and decreased MDA in the liver and serum mainly from 2 weeks onwards. Data suggested that xanthophyll supplementation enhanced antioxidant capacity and reduced lipid peroxidation in different tissues of hens and chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A correction to the article "Supplementation of xanthophylls decreased proinflammatory and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines in hens and chicks" in the November 2012 issue is presented.