Effects of Dietary Boron Supplementation on Performance, Egg Quality, and Physiological Responses in Late-Laying Hens Subjected to Feed Restriction
Biological Trace Element Research, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s12011-026-05223-1
- Dergi Adı: Biological Trace Element Research
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Earth, Atmospheric, & Aquatic Science Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Aging, Boric acid, ER stress, Late-laying period, Quantitative feed restriction
- Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study aimed to evaluate how different levels of boric acid (BA) supplementation affect performance, serum biochemistry, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and intestinal structure in late-laying hens subjected to feed restriction. We randomly assigned 180 laying hens, 70 weeks old, into six groups: a non-feed-restricted control group (CON1), non-feed-restricted groups supplemented with 60 mg/kg feed (B60-1) and 90 mg/kg feed (B90-1) of BA, a feed-restricted control group (CON2), and feed-restricted groups supplemented with 60 mg/kg feed (B60-2) and 90 mg/kg feed (B90-2) of BA. The experiment lasted 56 days. Feed restriction significantly reduced egg production and body weight (p < 0.05). However, feed efficiency improved in the feed-restricted control group (CON2) (p < 0.05). In serum biochemical analyses, Alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were lower in the B60-1 group, while triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were lowest in the B90-2 group. Uric acid levels were highest in the CON2 group (p < 0.05), and total protein levels decreased in the B90-2 group (p < 0.05). Nrf-2, GCLC, and GCLM levels were higher in the control groups (CON1 and CON2) compared with BA-supplemented groups (p < 0.01). ATF-4, ATF-6, IRE-1, and CHOP levels significantly increased in the feed-restricted control group (CON2) and decreased with BA supplementation (p ≤ 0.005). While we did not observe significant differences in duodenal structure (p > 0.05), feed restriction caused reductions in villus height and epithelial height in the jejunum and ileum. These reductions were partially improved in the B60-2 and B90-2 groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, BA supplementation during feed restriction may help maintain intestinal integrity, adjust cellular stress responses, and support performance-related metabolic changes in late-laying hens.