{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]],"date-time":"2026-08-04T15:57:07Z","timestamp":1785859027199,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]],"date-time":"2026-08-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785801600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Early post-hatch development represents a critical physiological period during which nutritional interventions may influence metabolic adaptation, oxidative balance, and tissue development in poultry. This study investigated the effects of\n                    <jats:italic>in ovo<\/jats:italic>\n                    threonine (Thr) administration and post-hatch Hydrogel\u00ae supplementation, with or without Thr, on growth performance, oxidative status, antioxidant-related gene expression, hematological parameters, and liver histology in ducks subjected to delayed feed access. A total of 606 fertilized duck eggs were randomly assigned to seven experimental treatments, including immediately fed controls and groups exposed to a 36\u202fh post-hatch feed deprivation period. Relative expression of Nrf2 and GPX1 was evaluated at hatch and after feed deprivation using quantitative PCR. Growth performance, FRAP, MDA, leukocyte profiles, and liver histopathology were also assessed. Delayed feed access significantly reduced early growth performance (\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05), whereas partial compensatory growth was observed later in the rearing period. Oxidative status was also significantly affected, as reflected by altered FRAP and MDA values (\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05). The highest antioxidant capacity was observed in the immediately fed saline-injected control and in ovo threonine-treated groups, while increased lipid peroxidation was detected in several delayed-fed treatments. Nrf2 expression generally decreased after feed deprivation, whereas GPX1 expression showed a more variable response pattern among treatments and sampling times. Histological evaluation revealed significant temporal changes in hepatic fat accumulation, hydropic degeneration, and lymphocytic infiltration (\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.05). Feed deprivation was associated with increased inflammatory and degenerative liver alterations at later sampling points. Overall, delayed post-hatch feeding induced marked oxidative and metabolic disturbances in ducks, while early nutritional interventions only partially alleviated the negative physiological effects of feed deprivation.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1891766","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]],"date-time":"2026-08-04T15:03:02Z","timestamp":1785855782000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["In ovo threonine administration and early feeding strategies modulate oxidative stress responses and liver metabolism in ducks subjected to post-hatch feed deprivation"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"V.","family":"\u00c1cs","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"N\u00f3ra Katalin","family":"Szeli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A.","family":"Tischler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"O.","family":"Cs\u00f6t\u00f6nyi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"I.","family":"J\u00f3cs\u00e1k","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"I.","family":"Benedek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J.","family":"Nagy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"AVI-VET Ltd.","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Szilvia","family":"\u00c1prily","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"\u00d6.","family":"Petneh\u00e1zy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]},{"name":"Medicopus Nonprofit Ltd.","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J.","family":"Turb\u00f3k","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Health Diagnostic Department, Animal Health Diagnostic Directorate, National Food Chain Safety Office","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J.","family":"Enyezdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pathodiagnostica Ltd.","place":["P\u00e9cs, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"V.","family":"Halas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Kaposv\u00e1r Campus)","place":["Kaposv\u00e1r, Hungary"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.3923\/ijps.2012.229.236","article-title":"Amino acid and fatty acid profiles of Peking and Muscovy duck meat","volume":"11","author":"Aronal","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int J Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3079","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2016.0465","article-title":"Effect of in ovo feeding of L-arginine on the hatchability, growth performance, gastrointestinal hormones, and jejunal digestive and absorptive capacity of posthatch broilers","volume":"95","author":"Gao","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Anim Sci"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3654","DOI":"10.1002\/jsfa.6301","article-title":"Prospects of in ovo feeding and nutrient supplementation for poultry: the science and commercial applications","volume":"93","author":"Kadam","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Sci Food Agric"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104003","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2024.104003","article-title":"Oxidative stress in poultry production","volume":"103","author":"Oke","year":"2024","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1920","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/86.9.1920","article-title":"Effect of dietary Rhodobacter capsulatus on cholesterol concentration and fatty acid composition in broiler meat","volume":"86","author":"Salma","year":"2007","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1016\/S0309-1740(03)00022-6","article-title":"Effects of fatty acids on meat quality: a review","volume":"66","author":"Wood","year":"2003","journal-title":"Meat Sci"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"633","DOI":"10.3390\/gels8100633","article-title":"Effect of malondialdehyde-induced oxidation modification on physicochemical changes and gel characteristics of duck myofibrillar proteins","volume":"8","author":"Zhu","year":"2022","journal-title":"Gels"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"695","DOI":"10.3382\/ps\/pey416","article-title":"Possibilities of early life programming in broiler chickens via intestinal microbiota modulation","volume":"98","author":"Rubio","year":"2019","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-018-1738-z","article-title":"Prebiotics and synbiotics \u2013 in ovo delivery for improved lifespan condition in chicken","volume":"14","author":"Siwek","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Vet Res"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"574","DOI":"10.3382\/japr.2007-00006","article-title":"Dietary threonine needs for growth and immunity of broilers","volume":"16","author":"Corzo","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Appl Poult Res"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"358","DOI":"10.1093\/japr\/5.4.358","article-title":"L-threonine for poultry: a review","volume":"5","author":"Kidd","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Appl Poult Res"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1558","DOI":"10.1093\/jn\/136.6.1558","article-title":"Specific amino acids increase mucin synthesis and microbiota in dextran sulfate sodium-treated rats","volume":"136","author":"Faure","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Nutr"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"405","DOI":"10.3382\/ps\/pew240","article-title":"Effects of threonine supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, oxidative status, intestinal integrity, and barrier function of broilers at the early age","volume":"96","author":"Chen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2592","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13082592","article-title":"Physiological functions of threonine in animals: beyond nutrition metabolism","volume":"13","author":"Tang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2251","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2011-01509","article-title":"Effect of supplemental L-threonine on mucin 2 gene expression and intestinal mucosal immunity and digestive enzyme activities of laying hens under high temperature and humidity","volume":"90","author":"Azzam","year":"2011","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70046","DOI":"10.1002\/vms3.70046","article-title":"Optimising growth, immunity, and gene expression in broiler chickens through dietary threonine levels and oil inclusion","volume":"10","author":"El-Katcha","year":"2024","journal-title":"Vet Med Sci"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"646","DOI":"10.14202\/vetworld.2025.646-657","article-title":"Effects of high dietary threonine supplementation on growth performance, health biomarkers, and intestinal histology in cyclic heat-stressed broilers","volume":"18","author":"Khalid","year":"2025","journal-title":"Vet World"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.1017\/S000711450769936X","article-title":"Amino acids and immune function","volume":"98","author":"Li","year":"2007","journal-title":"Br J Nutr"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1186\/s40104-022-00718-5","article-title":"Dietary methionine deficiency stunts growth and increases fat deposition in Pekin ducks","volume":"13","author":"Wu","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Anim Sci Biotechnol"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3729","DOI":"10.3382\/ps\/pez061","article-title":"Productivity, reproductive performance, and fat deposition of laying duck breeders in response to concentrations of dietary energy and protein","volume":"98","author":"Xia","year":"2019","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"206","DOI":"10.1186\/s12866-022-02619-6","article-title":"Delayed access to feed early post-hatch affects the development and maturation of gastrointestinal tract microbiota in broiler chickens","volume":"22","author":"Proszkowiec-Weglarz","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Microbiol"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"764","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/84.5.764","article-title":"In ovo feeding improves energy status of late-term embryos","volume":"84","author":"Uni","year":"2005","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5474","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules25225474","article-title":"An overview of Nrf2 signaling pathway and its role in inflammation","volume":"25","author":"Saha","year":"2020","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"609","DOI":"10.1017\/S000711451200565X","article-title":"Berberis vulgaris extract alleviates the adverse effects of heat stress via modulating hepatic nuclear transcription factors in quail","volume":"110","author":"Sahin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Br J Nutr"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.21767\/2572-5459.100008","article-title":"Antioxidant systems in poultry biology: superoxide dismutase","volume":"1","author":"Surai","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Anim Res Nutr"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-63245-2_8","article-title":"ROS signaling in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)","volume":"967","author":"Kellner","year":"2017","journal-title":"Adv Exp Med Biol"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e00099-20","DOI":"10.1128\/MCB.00099-20","article-title":"The molecular mechanisms regulating the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway","volume":"40","author":"Baird","year":"2020","journal-title":"Mol Cell Biol"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"G1211","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpgi.00220.2010","article-title":"Transcription factor Nrf2 regulates SHP and lipogenic gene expression in hepatic lipid metabolism","volume":"299","author":"Huang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1046","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-022-27271-y","article-title":"Evolution of oxidative stress markers in livers of ducks during force-feeding","volume":"13","author":"Remignon","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1079\/WPS20043","article-title":"Methods for early nutrition and their potential","volume":"60","author":"Uni","year":"2004","journal-title":"Worlds Poult Sci J"},{"key":"ref31","volume-title":"Cherry Valley Ducks Performance Objectives","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102466","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2022.102466","article-title":"Improving the incubation results by sealing the eggshell of cracked hatching eggs with surgical tape","volume":"102","author":"Peri\u0107","year":"2023","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref33","volume-title":"Cherry Valley Ducks Management Guide","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref34","volume-title":"Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International","year":"2012"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1016\/0003-9861(68)90654-1","article-title":"Photoperoxidation in isolated chloroplasts. I. Kinetics and stoichiometry of fatty acid peroxidation","volume":"125","author":"Heath","year":"1968","journal-title":"Arch Biochem Biophys"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/S0076-6879(99)99005-5","article-title":"Ferric reducing\/antioxidant power assay: direct measure of total antioxidant activity of biological fluids and modified version for simultaneous measurement of total antioxidant power and ascorbic acid concentration","volume":"299","author":"Benzie","year":"1999","journal-title":"Methods Enzymol"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2620","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2009-00244","article-title":"Effects of turmeric on the expression of antioxidant genes in broiler chicks fed aflatoxin","volume":"88","author":"Yarru","year":"2009","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"402","DOI":"10.1006\/meth.2001.1262","article-title":"Analysis of relative gene expression data using real-time quantitative PCR and the 2\u2212\u0394\u0394CT method","volume":"25","author":"Livak","year":"2001","journal-title":"Methods"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112","DOI":"10.2144\/04371RV01","article-title":"Validation of housekeeping genes for normalizing RNA expression in real-time PCR","volume":"37","author":"Dheda","year":"2004","journal-title":"BioTechniques"},{"key":"ref40","first-page":"71","article-title":"An improvement of the 2\u2212\u0394\u0394CT method for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction data analysis","volume":"3","author":"Rao","year":"2013","journal-title":"Biostat Bioinform Biomath"},{"key":"ref41","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref42","author":"Canty","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4899-4541-9","volume-title":"An Introduction to the Bootstrap","author":"Efron","year":"1993"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6954","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2020.09.045","article-title":"Effects of early nutrition and transport stress on gut health and performance in broilers","volume":"99","author":"Hollemans","year":"2020","journal-title":"Poult Sci"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2019.00060","article-title":"Oxidative stress in the poultry gut: potential challenges and interventions","volume":"6","author":"Mishra","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1375","DOI":"10.3390\/antiox13111375","article-title":"Oxidative stress in poultry and the therapeutic role of herbal medicine in intestinal health","volume":"13","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Antioxidants"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.3390\/antiox8070235","article-title":"Antioxidant defence systems and oxidative stress in poultry biology: an update","volume":"8","author":"Surai","year":"2019","journal-title":"Antioxidants"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1343","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/82.8.1343","article-title":"Ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, and oregano supplements reduce stress-induced deterioration of chicken meat quality","volume":"82","author":"Young","year":"2003","journal-title":"Poult Sci"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1891766\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]],"date-time":"2026-08-04T15:03:04Z","timestamp":1785855784000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1891766\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]]},"references-count":48,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2026.1891766"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1891766","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,4]]},"article-number":"1891766"}}