Effects of Dihydromyricetin on Immune Function of Chicks
[Objective]The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of dihydromyricetin(DHM)on immune organ index,histological morphology of immune organ and serum immune factor content in chicks.[Method]150 Hy-line White chicks of 7-day-old were selected and randomly divided into five groups with 30 per group.The control group was given the basal diet,and the administration groups were given the basal diet supplemented with 0.025%,0.05%,0.1%and 0.2%DHM,respectively.At 7,14,21,28 and 35 d after administration,six chicks were randomly selected from each group for heart blood collection and the immune organs(thymus,spleen and bursa of Fabricius)were collected and weighed separately.The immune organ index of chicks in different treatment groups were calculated.The serum immunoglobulin IgG and complement(C3 and C4)content were measured,and HE staining was performed on the immune organs of chicks at 35 d of administration to observe tissue morphology.[Result]Compared with the control group,the thymus index of chicks in 0.2%DHM group was significantly increased at 35 d after administration(P<0.05).The spleen index of chicks in 0.2%DHM group was significantly increased at 28 and 35 d after administration(P<0.05).The bursa of Fabricius index of chicks in 0.1%and 0.2%DHM groups were significantly increased at 7 d after administration(P<0.05).After adding DHM to the feed,the immune organ cells of chicks were arranged neatly,the number of lymphocytes increased,and the structure became denser.Compared with the control group,the serum IgG content of chicks in 0.05%,0.1%and 0.2%DHM groups were significantly increased at 28 and 35 d after administration(P<0.05).Compared to each dose group,the serum IgG content of chicks in 0.2%DHM group was significantly higher than that in other groups at 21 and 28 d,and was significantly higher than that in 0.025%and 0.05%DHM groups at 35 d(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the content of serum complement C3 of chicks in 0.1%and 0.2%DHM groups were significantly increased at different administration times(P<0.05).Compared to each dose group,the serum complement C3 content of chicks in 0.2%DHM group was significantly higher than that in other groups at 14 and 28 d,and significantly higher than that in 0.025%and 0.05%DHM groups at 21 and 35 d(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the serum complement C4 content of chicks was significantly increased in 0.05%,0.1%and 1.2%DHM groups at 14,28 and 35 d(P<0.05).Compared to each dose group,the serum complement C4 content of chicks in 0.2%DHM group was significantly higher than that in other groups at 14,21 and 28 d,and significantly higher than that in 0.025%DHM group at 35 d(P<0.05).[Conclusion]Adding 0.2%DHM to the diet could promote the growth and development of immune organs,increase the expression of immune factors of chicks,and enhance immune function of chicks.