This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin E () on laying performance, VE deposition, antioxidant capacity, immunity, follicle development, estrogen secretion, ovary metabolome, and cecal microbiota of laying hens. One hundred and twenty XinYang Black-Feathered laying hens (70 wk old) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (6 replicates of 20 birds), and fed a basal diet (containing 20 mg/kg VE, control () group) and a basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg VE (VE group). The experiment lasted for 10 wk. Results showed that VE supplementation increased laying performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity, as evidenced by increased ( < 0.05) performance (laying rate), antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase, total superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant capacity, and catalase) and immune (immunoglobulins) parameters, and decreased ( < 0.05) feed/egg ratio and malondialdehyde. Meanwhile, VE group had higher ( < 0.05) pregrade follicles, ovary index and serum estrogen levels than CON group. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that VE supplementation altered the cecal microbiota composition by increasing and abundances reducing abundance (at genus level), which are mainly associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids. Metabolomic profiling of the ovary revealed that the major metabolites altered by VE supplementation were mainly related to follicle development, estrogen secretion, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, phototransduction, bile acid synthesis, and nutrient transport. Furthermore, changes in cecal microbiota (at genus level) and ovary metabolites were highly correlated with laying performance, antioxidant, and immune parameters. In summary, VE contributed to the laying performance of aged laying hens by enhancing antioxidant, immune, and ovarian functions, promoting follicle development and estrogen secretion, and regulating gut microbiota and ovary metabolites. These findings will provide a new perspective on the mechanisms of egg production in aged poultry ovaries.

中文翻译：

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补充维生素 E 的老年蛋鸡卵巢代谢组和盲肠微生物群的变化

本研究旨在评估维生素E（）对蛋鸡产蛋性能、VE沉积、抗氧化能力、免疫力、卵泡发育、雌激素分泌、卵巢代谢组和盲肠微生物群的影响。 120只信阳黑羽蛋鸡（70周龄）随机分为2组（6个重复，每组20只），饲喂基础日粮（含VE 20 mg/kg，对照组（）组）和基础日粮饮食中添加 20 mg/kg VE（VE 组）。实验持续了10周。结果表明，补充 VE 可提高产蛋性能、抗氧化能力和免疫力，具体表现在性能（产蛋率）、抗氧化剂（谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、总超氧化物歧化酶、总抗氧化能力和过氧化氢酶）和免疫（免疫球蛋白）的提高（< 0.05）参数，并降低（<0.05）料蛋比和丙二醛。同时，VE组的未成熟卵泡、卵巢指数和血清雌激素水平均高于CON组（<0.05）。 16S rRNA 测序表明，VE 补充通过增加丰度和减少丰度（属水平）来改变盲肠微生物群的组成，这主要与短链脂肪酸的产生有关。卵巢代谢组学分析显示，补充VE改变的主要代谢物主要与卵泡发育、雌激素分泌、抗炎、抗氧化、光转导、胆汁酸合成和营养转运有关。此外，盲肠微生物群（属水平）和卵巢代谢物的变化与产蛋性能、抗氧化和免疫参数高度相关。综上所述，VE通过增强抗氧化、免疫和卵巢功能，促进卵泡发育和雌激素分泌，调节肠道微生物群和卵巢代谢物，有助于老年蛋鸡的产蛋性能。这些发现将为老龄家禽卵巢产蛋机制提供新的视角。