Kaempferol improves carcase characteristics in broiler chickens by regulating ANGPTL3 gene expression

1. The objective of this study was to examine the beneficial effects of kaempferol, a naturally occurring polyphenol, on carcase characteristics in broiler chickens and the mechanisms involved in this regulation. 2. Broiler chickens were randomly divided into 7 groups: control, carrier control, kaempferol (0·3%), kaempferol (0·6%), hypercholesterolemic (HLD), HLD and kaempferol (0·3%), HLD and kaempferol (0·6%). 3. Seven weeks after treatment, carcase characteristics, lipid levels in the blood and liver, expression of hepatic Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) mRNA, and expression of adipose lipoprotein lipase (LPL) protein were determined. 4. Treatment with kaempferol (0·3 or 0·6%) significantly increased plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, decreased percentage of abdominal fat, thickness of subcutaneous fat, plasma and hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, muscle malondialdehyde level and down-regulated expression of ANGPTL3 mRNA concomitantly with up-regulated expression of LPL protein in normal and hypercholesterolemic broiler chickens. 5. Kaempferol (0·3 or 0·6%) treatment had no significant effect on the values of percentage of breast muscle, percentage of leg muscle, carcase weight and eviscerated percentage. 6. The results suggest that kaempferol improves carcase characteristics by decreasing expression of ANGPTL3 in broiler chickens.