Effects of essential oil mixtures on expression of genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in geese (Anser anser)

Abstract

The use of essential oils has recently increased in the poultry sector. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of essential oil mixture (juniper, mint, oregano and rosemary oil) on fatty acid oxidation and lipogenic gene expression in geese. Research groups were formed as C (control; no additives), EK1 (0.4 ml/l essential oil mixture supplemented) and EK2 (0.8 ml/l essential oil mixture supplemented). Relative expression levels of genes included in lipogenesis (ACC alpha, ChREBP, FASN, LXR alpha and SREBP-1) expression levels of genes included in fatty acid oxidation (ACOX1, CPT1, CPT1A, PPAR alpha and PPAR gamma) were measured using RT-qPCR. Group EK1 upregulates the mRNA expression levels of genes involved in lipogenesis such as ACC alpha, ChREBP and SREBP-1, while it downregulates the mRNA expression in levels of all genes involved in fatty acid oxidation. Group EK2 increases the mRNA expression levels of genes involved in lipogenesis such as ACC alpha, FASN and SREBP-1, while it decreased mRNA expression at the levels of all genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, as in the other group. In the study, adding an essential oil mixture to drinking water is predicted to increase fatty liver because it upregulates genes related to fat synthesis (lipogenesis) and downregulates genes related to fat degradation (fatty acid oxidation).