(−)-Hydroxycitric Acid Suppresses Lipid Droplet Accumulation and Accelerates Energy Metabolism via Activation of the Adiponectin-AMPK Signaling Pathway in Broiler Chickens

(−)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) inhibits the deposition of fat in animals and humans, while the molecular mechanism is still unclear. The present study investigated the effect and mechanism of (−)-HCA’s regulation of lipid, glucose, and energy metabolism in broiler chickens. The current results showed that (−)-HCA decreased the accumulation of lipid droplets and triglyceride content by reducing fatty acid synthase protein level and enhancing phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase protein level. (−)-HCA accelerated carbohydrate aerobic metabolisms by increasing the activities of phosphofructokinase-1, pyruvate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, (−)-HCA increased adiponectin receptor 1 mRNA level and enhanced phospho-AMPKα, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α, nuclear respiratory factor-1, and mitochondrial transcription factor A protein levels in broiler chickens. These data indicated that (−)-HCA reduced lipid droplet accumulation, im...