Performance, diameter of muscle fibers, and gene expression of mechanistic target of rapamycin in pectoralis major muscle of broilers supplemented with leucine and valine

Abstract

Two experiments were performed to study the interaction between the standardized ileal digestible (SID) leucine (Leu) and valine (Val) levels on the mRNA expression of genes involved in the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway (experiment I) and determine the requirement of these amino acids in low-protein diets, and their effects on performance, serum parameters and muscle fiber diameters of broilers (experiment II) from day 1 to day 21 post hatch. Broiler chickens were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 3 × 3 and 5 × 5 factorial arrangement for a total of 9 and 25 treatments in experiments I and II, respectively. There was no (P > 0.05) interaction between the SID Leu and Val levels on mRNA expression of mTOR, S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), 4E-binding protein-1 (4EBP1), eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) genes in pectoralis major muscle. Leucine supplementation increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of mTOR and S6K1 genes in muscle tissue, whereas Val supplementation did not affect (P > 0.05) mRNA expression of the genes investigated. Interaction was observed (P < 0.05) between dietary Leu and Val levels on feed intake and gain:feed. Leucine supplementation may stimulate mRNA expression of mTOR and S6K1 genes in pectoralis major muscle of broilers from day 1 to day 21 post hatch. The SID Leu and Val levels required for the optimization of feed intake, weight gain, and gain:feed in low-crude protein diets for broiler chickens from day 1 to 21 post hatch were estimated at 1.29% and 0.96%, 1.28% and 0.92%, and 1.27% and 0.91%, respectively; however, these requirements may be greater to maximize muscle fiber growth.