본 연구는 구멍갈파래 급여가 육계 혈액 내 항산화, 면역조절 효과에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위해 실시 하였으며, 이를 위해 LPS로 염증반응이 유도된 육계에서 혈액 SOD 유사 활성, immunoglobulin 농도 및 비장 조직 내 cytokine mRNA 발현을 조사하였다. 공시계로는 1일령 Ross종 육계수컷 96수를 선별하여, 육계전기(0~3주), 육계후기(3~5주)의 5주 동안 사양시험을 실시하였다. 처리당 24수(3수×8반복)씩 4처리구에 총 96수를 임의배치하여 실시하였다. 시험구 배치는 무첨가구(Negative Control; NC), 시판 면역증강제 첨가구(Positive Control; PC, β-glucan 25 ppm), 구멍갈파래 분말 3% 첨가구(Ulva pertusa kjellman Powder; Ulva P) 및 구멍갈파래 추출물 0.3% 첨가구(Ulva pertusa kjellman Extract ; Ulva E)로 배치하였다.
본 연구 결과 육계에서 구멍갈파래 급여는 염증, 질병의 원인인 활성산소 제거에 효과가 있다고 사료된다. 특히 구멍갈파래 추출물은 혈액 내 IgM의 농도를 조절하여 외부항원에 대한 과잉면역반응을 억제하고 염증 관련 cytokine mRNA 발현을 억제하여 육계 면역조절에 긍적적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 사료된다.This study was conducted to test the efficacy of Ulva pertusa kjellman as immunomodulators under lipopolysaccharide(LPS) challenge in broilers by investigating their effects on serum superoxide dismutase(SOD) like ability, immunoglobulin concentration, and splenic cytokine mRNA expression. A total of ninety six1-d-old male broiler chicks(Ross 308) were divided into 4 treatment groups with 8 replicates of 3 birds in each group. NC(negative control, no immune substances), PC(positive control, β-glucan 25 ppm), Ulva P(Ulva pertusa kjellman Powder 3%), and Ulva E(Extract form Ulva pertusa kjellman 0.3%) were added in feed with respective substance. Heparinized venous blood and spleens were collected from five birds per dietary treatment at 5 wk of age. The SOD like activities in Ulva P and Ulva E were significantly increased in comparison with other groups(P<0.05). The immunoglobulin M content was lower in the Ulva E than other groups(P<0.05). Expression patterns of splenic cytokine mRNA in the IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-6 were similar. Expression rate of IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-6 in Ulva pertusa kjellman(Ulva P, Ulva E) were decreased(P<0.05) in comparison to other groups. Expression rate of IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-6 were significantly lower in groups treated with Ulva E than Ulva P. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of Ulva pertusa kjellman improved SOD like activity and affect immune system by inhibiting inflammatory response in broiler chicks. In addition, it is more effective to use Ulva pertusa kjellman extract than powder for immunomodulatory function. These results suggest the possibility that Ulva pertusa kjellman could be used as the immunomodulator for inflammatory response in broiler chicks.