In ovo threonine supplementation affects ileal gene expression of nutrient transporters in broilers inoculated post‐hatch with Salmonella Enteritidis

The effect of in ovo threonine (Thr) supplementation on the ileal expression of glucose, peptide and amino acid transporters was assessed in Salmonella Enteritidis‐challenged broiler chicks. At 17.5 days of incubation, fertile eggs were supplemented in the amniotic fluid with sterile saline or 3.5% threonine. Hatchlings were individually weighed, and Salmonella Enteritidis negative status was confirmed. At 2 days of age, half of the birds of each group were inoculated with sterile nutrient broth or Salmonella Enteritidis inoculum. Relative expression of sodium‐dependent glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), di‐ and tri‐peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) and alanine, serine, cysteine, threonine transporter (ASCT1) was assessed at hatch, 2 and 9 days of age, i.e., before inoculation and 7 days post‐inoculation (dpi). At 9 days of age (7dpi), threonine increased SGLT1 and GLUT2 expression, whereas GLUT2 expression decreased in Salmonella‐challenged birds. There was a significant interaction between threonine and Salmonella for PepT1 and ASCT1. Threonine increased PepT1 expression only in non‐challenged birds. In addition, in ovo supplementation increased expression of ASCT1 regardless of post‐hatch inoculation; Salmonella inoculation resulted in decreased expression of ASCT1 only in supplemented birds. The results suggest that while intra‐amniotic threonine administration in broiler embryos increases the expression of genes related to the absorption of monosaccharides and amino acids, Salmonella challenge may negatively affect the expression of protein related transporters in the ileum of broilers.