Modified guchang decoction improves gut injury in Escherichia coli K88-challenged broilers by activating FXR and TGR5 signalling pathways

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CFU/mL) per broiler to establish the E. coli infection model. From 14 to 20 d, treatments were administered via drinking water. The experimental period lasted 28 days. Drinking water supplemented with MGD enhanced growth performance, immune organ indices, intestinal mucosal barrier, villus height and crypt depth in broilers. The MGDL group attenuated inflammatory responses, resulting in decreased concentrations of interleukin-8, interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, interferon-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α and lipopolysaccharides (P < 0.05) and increased concentrations of interleukin -10 (P < 0.05). In addition, drinking water supplemented with MGD decreased the expression of myeloid differentiation primary response 88, Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor kappa B (P < 0.05), whereas it increased the expression of FXR and TGR5 (P < 0.05). Caecal microbiota sequencing showed that the MGDL group improved microbiota composition by downregulating harmful bacteria (g_Bacteroides and g_Enterococcus). Microbiota were associated with FXR and TGR5 signalling pathways, immune indicators and intestinal proteins (P < 0.05). Overall, drinking water supplemented with MGD mitigated gut damage in broilers challenged with E. coli K88 through the FXR and TGR5 signalling pathways.