Effect of Methionine Supplementation on Lipogenesis and Lipolysis in Broiler Chicks.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine if marginal excess or deficiency of methionine (Met) in diets affects lipogenesis and lipolysis in broilers under ad libitum- or pair-feeding conditions. A practical diet (CS) containing 0.93% sulphur amino acids (SAA) as a control, contained maize-soyabean meal and an experimental diet (CSG) with 0.56% SAA, based on maize, soyabean meal and glutamic acid, were isonitrogenous (23% CP) and isoenergetic (ME 3.2 Mcal/kg). Glutamic acid in the basal experimental diet was replaced with Met at 0.56, 0.93 or 1.15% of SAA to equal CP and ME content of the control diet. Broilers, 9 days old, were given these 4 diets for 17 days. The activity of malic enzyme in the liver was highest at 0.56% SAA in broilers given CSG diets under both feeding systems. The CS diet was more efficient in reducing the activity of malic enzyme compared with the CSG diet. The lowest fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activity was observed in chickens given CSG with 0.93% SAA under ad libitum feeding conditions, whereas FAS activity did not differ among pair-fed groups. The activity of hormone sensitive lipase in adipose tissue was highest in chickens given CSG with 1.15% SAA in both feeding groups. The results suggested that dietary Met per se has a potential to alter lipogenesis and lipolysis in broilers