Gene expression of manganese-containing superoxide dismutase as a biomarker of manganese bioavailability for manganese sources in broilers.

The goal of this study was to determine whether Mn-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene expression in heart tissue would reflect differences among bioavailabilities of Mn sources earlier than other indices. Broilers were divided into 5 groups and fed a Mn-unsupplemented basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with 120 mg of Mn/kg as Mn sulfate or Mn methionine E (Mn Met E), Mn amino acid B (Mn AA B), or Mn amino acid C (Mn AA C) with weak, moderate, or strong chelation strength, respectively. Heart MnSOD mRNA levels were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR at 7, 14, or 21 d. The results showed that heart MnSOD mRNA level increased as dietary Mn level increased at any age. At 7 d, chicks fed the diet supplemented with Mn AA B had higher MnSOD mRNA levels than those fed the diet supplemented with Mn sulfate and Mn Met E, and the same tendency was observed at 14 or 21 d. The results suggest that MnSOD gene expression, which is regulated by dietary Mn at transcriptional level, could reflect differences among bio-availabilities of organic Mn sources as early as 7 d. Therefore, the estimation of relative bioavailabilities of Mn sources based on heart MnSOD mRNA level could require a shorter experimental period and a smaller number of animals, and thus less cost.