The authors confirm that all data underlying the findings are fully available without restriction. All relevant data are within the paper and its supporting information files.

Introduction {#s1}
============

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient throughout the life cycle. Dietary vitamin A deficiency decreased performance, caused infertility or impaired reproduction [@pone.0105677-ClagettDame1], and depressed T-lymphocyte responses and antibody production in poultry [@pone.0105677-Davis1], [@pone.0105677-Sklan1]. Vitamin A supplementation of the diet could prevent inhibition of growth performance in poultry that would otherwise experience a deficiency of this vitamin. The National Research Council (NRC) (1987) [@pone.0105677-NRC1] recommended a dosage of 3,000 IU/kg of vitamin A in poultry and indicated that the maximum tolerable dose for laying hens is 40,000 IU/kg. Previous studies showed that diets supplemented with high levels of vitamin A above the NRC recommendation had no significant effect on the laying performance of layer hens under normal conditions [@pone.0105677-Cokun1], [@pone.0105677-MendonaJr1]. However, diets that included higher doses of vitamin A than the NRC recommendation improved the laying performance of heat-stressed hens [@pone.0105677-Lin1].

Today, broiler breeding companies recommend 10,000 IU/kg vitamin as the requirement level of broilers or broiler breeders [@pone.0105677-ROSS1]. As a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin A can be efficiently stored in the liver and yolk of birds, and it plays a role in both the biology of the adult bird and embryo development [@pone.0105677-OByrne1]. However, excess amounts of vitamin A retained in the body may be toxic to poultry.Vitamin A is easily destroyed in feed processing and storage. Usually, 10,000--15,000 IU/kg vitamin A is supplemented in broiler or broiler breeder commercial feed. Higher levels of vitamin A (210,000 to 410,000 IU/kg) decreased egg production, size, and hatchability in laying hens [@pone.0105677-March1]. Vitamin A may interfere with the absorption of other fat-soluble vitamins and is known to decrease α-tocopherol deposition in egg yolk [@pone.0105677-Jiang1], [@pone.0105677-Surai1]. Excessive vitamin A intake resulted in congenital malformations during embryonic development [@pone.0105677-ClagettDame1] and also had a toxic effect on the liver in broilers [@pone.0105677-McCuaig1]. Excessive supplementation with vitamin A might increase the risk of bone fractures by depleting vitamin D [@pone.0105677-CaireJuvera1], and it has a detrimental effect on the immune function of birds [@pone.0105677-Freidman1]. However, Veltmann et al. reported that birds could tolerate as much as 30 times the recommended level of vitamin A without showing compromised performance or damage to skeletal development, as measured by bone ash [@pone.0105677-Veltmann1].

Although many studies have examined the effects of vitamin A on immunity, growth, and development in broilers and layers, few studies have explored the effects of high levels of dietary vitamin A supplementation on broiler breeder hens. Veltmann and Jensen compared vitamin A toxicity in Single Comb White Leghorn chicks, broilers, and turkey poults and found that a differential response to vitamin A toxicosis existed within breeds and across species [@pone.0105677-Veltmann2]. The effect of high levels of dietary vitamin A supplementation on broiler breeder hens is unknown. In the current study, experiment 1 was designed to evaluate the effects of high levels of dietary supplementation of vitamin A on reproductive performance, vitamin A and E concentrations in the yolk and in the liver, and antibody production of broiler breeder hens. Experiment 2 was used to study much higher levels of dietary supplementation of vitamin A on reproductive performance and to explain the mechanism of vitamin A\'s effects on vitamin D absorption, liver function, and the T-cell proliferation response.

Material and Methods {#s2}
====================

All animal studies were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee at China Agricultural University before initiation.The birds were sacrificed by intracardiac injection of sodium pentobarbital.

Experiment 1 {#s2a}
------------

A total of 1,120 36-week-old Ross-308 broiler breeder hens were randomly allotted to seven treatments with eight replicates, with 20 hens assigned to each replicate. The hens\' diets were supplemented with 5,000; 10,000; 15,000; 20,000; 25,000; 30,000; or 35,000 IU/kg vitamin A (retinyl acetate) in the diet. The experiment lasted for 20 weeks. The basal diet was formulated according to the recommendation of the NRC (1994) [@pone.0105677-National1] ([Table 1](#pone-0105677-t001){ref-type="table"}). The numbers of normal eggs, broken eggs, abnormal eggs, and dead hens were recorded every day.

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t001

###### Composition of diets and nutrient levels of broiler breeder experiment.

![](pone.0105677.t001){#pone-0105677-t001-1}

  Ingredients              Composition (%)     Nutrient     Calculated analysis
  ----------------------- ----------------- -------------- ---------------------
  Corn                          63.45        ME (MCal/Kg)          2.81
  Soybean meal                  24.40           CP (%)             17.31
  Limestone                     8.20           Lys (%)             0.85
  Soybean oil                   2.00           Met (%)             0.38
  Dicalcium Phosphate           0.96         Met+Cys (%)           0.67
  DL-Methionine                 0.10           Thr (%)             0.66
  Choline chloride(50%)         0.12            Trp(%)             0.21
  NaCl                          0.35            Ca (%)             3.20
  Flavomycin(4%)                0.02            AP (%)             0.30
  Ethoxyquin(33%)               0.03                       
  Phytase(2500 U/g)             0.04                       
  Mineral premix                0.20                       
  Vitamin premix                0.13                       

Mineral premix provided per kilogram of diet: Mn, 100 mg; Fe, 80 mg; Zn, 75 mg; Cu, 8 mg; I, 0.35 mg; Se, 0.30 mg.

Vitamin premix provided per kilogram of diet: vitamin D~3~, 2,500 IU; vitamin E, 30 IU; vitamin K~3~, 2.65 mg; vitamin B~1~, 2 mg; vitamin B~2~, 6 mg; vitamin B~12~, 0.025 mg; biotin, 0.0325 mg; folic acid, 1.25 mg; pantothenic acid, 12 mg; niacin, 50 mg.

At 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks, laid eggs were collected and hatched, and egg quality measurements were performed on three fresh eggs from each replicate. At 12 and 20 weeks, the amounts of vitamins A and E in egg yolks were measured. Every four weeks, a blood sample was collected from the brachial vein of one bird per replicate and centrifuged (3000×g for 10 min) to obtain serum for an antibody titer to Newcastle disease virus (NDV) measurement. At 12 and 20 weeks, one bird per replicate was killed, and the amounts of vitamins A and E in the liver were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Experiment 2 {#s2b}
------------

A total of 384 31-week-old Ross-308 broiler breeder hens were divided into four treatments with six replicates, with 16 hens assigned to each replicate. The hens\' diets were supplemented with 5,000; 15,000; 45,000; and 135,000 IU/kg vitamin A (retinyl acetate). The experiment lasted for 24 weeks. The basal diet was the same as in Experiment 1.

Performance was measured as in Experiment 1. At the 12-week and 24-week marks of the experiment, laid eggs were collected and hatched. Every 12 weeks (at 42 and 55 weeks of age), egg quality measurements were performed on three fresh eggs from each replicate. Every 12 weeks of the experiment, a blood sample was collected from the brachial vein of one bird per replicate to measure peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation, total bilirubin (TBIL), and aspartate amino transferase (AST).

At the end of the experiment, one bird per replicate was killed, and the intestinal mucosa of the duodenum was scraped, washed by cold phosphate buffer saline (PBS), frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at −80°C to measure mRNA expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR).

Housing and management {#s2c}
----------------------

Experimental hens were raised in a temperature-controlled broiler breeder house. All the birds had free access to feed and water during the entire period. At the start of the experiment, 160 g of feed was provided per bird, per day. From 41 weeks of age, feed was reduced by 0.5 g every week to prevent the hens from developing obesity. The hens underwent artificial insemination every five days. The male breeders used for artificial insemination were kept in separate quarters from the laying hens, and were fed the commercial breeder diet supplemented with 12,000 IU/kg vitamin A. The light regime was 16-h light:8-h dark. The broiler breeders were vaccinated against inactivated NDV vaccine at 20 weeks of age by receiving an injection in the back of the neck, and they received live NDV vaccine at 32 weeks of age by spray.

Egg quality {#s2d}
-----------

Eggshell strength was determined using Eggshell Force Gauge (Robotmation Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), and albumen height, Hugh unit, and yolk color were evaluated using the Egg Multi Tester EMT-5200 (Robotmation Co., Ltd.). Eggshell thickness without inner and outer membranes was measured at the blunt, equatorial, and sharp regions.

Egg hatchability {#s2e}
----------------

Eggs were stored at 7°C before incubated. The temperature was 37.8°C and 50% relative humidity. On the 17th day, the eggs were candled to determine the number of infertile eggs and the number of early dead embryos. After 21 days of incubation, the number of healthy chicks was recorded.

Antibody response to NDV {#s2f}
------------------------

An antibody titer was determined by the hemagglutination inhibition technique [@pone.0105677-Allan1]. The titer was expressed as log2 of the highest dilution based on total agglutination.

Concentrations of vitamins A and E in liver and yolk {#s2g}
----------------------------------------------------

Liver samples were homogenized and saponified, and extraction of vitamins A and E from the yolk and liver was performed as described by Boily et al. [@pone.0105677-Boily1]. The concentration of vitamins A and E was analyzed by the high-performance liquid chromatography method of Catignani et al. [@pone.0105677-Catignani1].

Peripheral T-lymphocyte proliferation {#s2h}
-------------------------------------

A 3-\[4,5-dimethylthiazol\]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT, Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) assay was used to determine the peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation response at 42 and 55 weeks of age in Experiment 2. Six healthy chickens (one per replicate) were randomly chosen from each treatment. Heparinized blood samples were collected from the wing vein and each blood sample was added to isometric lymphocyte separation medium (density  = 1.077; HaoYang Biological Manufacture Co., Ltd., Tianjin, China). Lymphocytes were isolated after 30 min, and centrifugation proceeded at 1,006 µ*g* at 4°C. The lymphocyte fraction was collected from the interface and washed three times with RPMI 1640 (Invitrogen Corp., Grand Island, NY) incomplete culture medium. Lymphocytes were then resuspended in 2 mL of RPMI 1640 complete culture medium supplemented with 5% (vol/vol) of fetal calf serum, 0.5% penicillin (final concentration, 100 U/mL), 0.5% streptomycin (final concentration, 100 µg/mL), and 1% N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-piperazine-N-2-ethane-sulfonic acid (HEPES, final concentration, 24 m*M*; Amresco 0511, Amresco Inc., Cleveland, OH).

Cells were detected by trypan blue dye exclusion and counted to adjust the density of the cells to 1×10^7^cells per milliliter of culture medium. One hundred microliters of cell suspension and the lymphocyte mitogen concanavalin A (Con A, Sigma Chemical Co.) or LPS (Sigma Chemical Co.) was added to a 96-well microtiter plate (Costar 3599, Corning, Inc., Corning, NY) to provide a final concentration of 45 µg/mL (Con A) or 25 µg/mL (LPS). Cells then were stored at 37°C with 5% CO~2~ in an incubator (MCO-18AIC CO~2~ incubator, Sanyo Electric Biomedical Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). After 68 h, 15 µL of 5 mg/mL MTT was added to each well and the plates were incubated for another 4 h. Subsequently, 100 µL of 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate dissolved in 0.04 mol/L HCl solution was added to each well to lyse the cells and solubilize the MTT crystals. Finally, plates were read using an automated ELISA reader (model 550 Microplate Reader, Bio-Rad Pacific Ltd., Hong Kong, China) at 570 nm [@pone.0105677-Zhang1].

Serum biochemistry {#s2i}
------------------

Total bilirubin (TBIL) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) were quantified spectrophotometrically, using commercial kits as manuscript guide (Jian Cheng Bioengineering Institute, Nanjing, China).

Vitamin D receptor mRNA expression {#s2j}
----------------------------------

Total RNA was extracted from the duodenal mucosa of the hens at the end of the experiment, according to SV Total RNA Isolation System instructions (Z3100; Promega, Madison, WI, USA), and resuspended in diethylpyrocarbonate-treated water. The concentration and quality of the total RNA were determined by absorbance at 260 nm and by agarose gel electrophoresis, respectively. Then 1.0 µg of total RNA was reversed into single-stranded cDNA with Avian Myeloblastosis Virus Reverse Transcriptase (Promega, Madison, WI, USA) using an oligo (dT) 15 primer in the presence of recombinant RNase in Ribonuclease Inhibitor (A3500; Promega, Madison, WI, USA).

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D~3~) receptor mRNA was performed with β-actin as the internal control standard. The primers used and PCR product lengths are listed in [Table 2](#pone-0105677-t002){ref-type="table"}. Real-time PCR was conducted on an ABI 7500 Fluorescent Quantitative PCR system (Applied Biosystems, Bedford, MA, USA) using the RealSuper Mixture with Rox (CW0767; CWbio Company, Sandringham, UK). The protocol used was as follows: 95°C for 4 min; 40 cycles of 95°C for 15 sec, 60°C for 60 sec; and 60°C for 95 sec for melting curve analysis. Each gene was amplified in triplicate. Standard curves were run to determine the amplification efficiency. The results were expressed as the ratio of the target gene mRNA to β-actin mRNA. The 2^--ΔΔCt^ method was used to calculate the expression of the target gene, as previously described [@pone.0105677-Pfaffl1].

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t002

###### Primers used for the determination of vitamin D receptor protein (VDR) and calcium binding protein (Calbindin).

![](pone.0105677.t002){#pone-0105677-t002-2}

  Primer name    Genebank accession   Orientation   Primer sequences (5′ to 3′)   Amplification products (bp)
  ------------- -------------------- ------------- ----------------------------- -----------------------------
  VDR               NM_205098. 1        Forward        TGGGAAAGGCGATGCTGATG                   168
                                        Reverse        TGATTGTGGTGGCAGTAGTG      
  β-actin           NM_205518. 1        Forward        AACACCCACACCCCTGTGAT                   100
                                        Reverse        TGAGTCAAGCGCCAAAAGAA      

Statistical analysis {#s2k}
--------------------

The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and GLM of SPSS 15.0 for Windows [@pone.0105677-Spss1]. Linear and quadratic effects were tested and considered significant at *p*\<0.05.

Results {#s3}
=======

Laying performance of broiler breeders {#s3a}
--------------------------------------

Different dietary levels of vitamin A supplementation had no significant effect on the percentage of normal eggs, abnormal eggs, broken eggs or on the mortality of broiler breeders in either experiment(data not shown). Average egg weight was not affected by different levels of vitamin A in Experiment 1. However, average egg weight from week 9 to week 16 linearly decreased with increasing vitamin A levels in Experiment 2 ([Table 3](#pone-0105677-t003){ref-type="table"}).

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t003

###### Average weight of normal eggs(g).

![](pone.0105677.t003){#pone-0105677-t003-3}

  Vitamin A Treatment (IU/kg)    Weeks 1--8   Weeks 9--16   Weeks 17--24   Weeks 1--24
  ----------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- -------------
  A (5,000)                        62.65         69.65        74.96^b^        67.62
  B (15,000)                       62.60         69.17       73.63^ab^        67.23
  C (45,000)                       62.18         69.09        73.25^a^        67.05
  D (135,000)                      62.02         69.01        72.86^a^        66.82
  SEM                              0.243         0.202         0.272          0.173
  *p*-value                                                               
  Combined                         0.755         0.684         0.021          0.433
  Linear                           0.308         0.285         0.004          0.110
  Quadratic                        0.912         0.625         0.309          0.822

Within a column, values not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (P\<0.05).

Egg quality {#s3b}
-----------

Different supplemental levels of vitamin A did not affect albumin height, Hugh unit, yolk color, eggshell strength, or eggshell thickness in Experiment 1 (data not shown). They also did not affect albumin height or Hugh unit in Experiment 2. However, the yolk color of eggs in week 12 and week 24 linearly decreased. The eggshell thickness (*p*\<0.05) and strength (*p*\<0.10) in week 24 was quadratically affected by increasing vitamin A levels in Experiment 2 ([Table 4](#pone-0105677-t004){ref-type="table"}).

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t004

###### Egg quality.

![](pone.0105677.t004){#pone-0105677-t004-4}

  VA Treatment (IU/kg)    Week 12 of experiment   Week 24 of experiment                               
  ---------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------- ------- ---------- --------- -------
  A (5,000)                      8.72^c^                  0.34            3.34    9.44^c^    0.36^b^   3.66
  B (15,000)                     8.33^c^                  0.33            3.41    8.96^bc^   0.34^a^   3.19
  C (45,000)                     7.72^b^                  0.34            3.31    8.37^b^    0.34^a^   3.47
  D (135,000)                    6.67^a^                  0.33            3.26    6.18^a^    0.35^a^   3.64
  SEM                             0.132                   0.001           0.091    0.202      0.002    0.104
  P -value                                                                                            
  Combined                       \<0.001                  0.843           0.949   \<0.001     0.034    0.281
  Linear                         \<0.001                  0.906           0.906    0.007      0.036    0.807
  Quadratic                       0.081                   0.660           0.781    0.239      0.034    0.099

Within a column, values not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (P\<0.05).

Egg hatchability {#s3c}
----------------

Vitamin A levels did not affect the hatchability of hatched or fertile eggs in Experiment 1 (data not shown) or the hatchability of hatched or fertile eggs in week 12 in Experiment 2 ([Table 5](#pone-0105677-t005){ref-type="table"}). However, the hatchability of hatched or fertile eggs at week 24 significantly decreased with increasing vitamin A levels (*p*\<0.05), and higher levels of supplemental vitamin A tended to linearly decrease the number of healthy chicks at week 24 (*p*\<0.10) in Experiment 2 ([Table 5](#pone-0105677-t005){ref-type="table"}).

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t005

###### Fertility and hatchability at week 12 and week 24 of the experiment.

![](pone.0105677.t005){#pone-0105677-t005-5}

  VA Treatment (IU/kg)    Hatched egg %   Fertile egg %   Healthy chicks (% of Hatched Eggs)                      
  ---------------------- --------------- --------------- ------------------------------------ ----------- ------- -------
  A (5,000)                   87.25         81.18^b^                    93.10                  88.01^b^    97.84   96.40
  B (15,000)                  86.62         81.19^b^                    95.89                  92.30^b^    98.17   96.69
  C (45,000)                  90.11         75.21^ab^                   96.55                  85.82^ab^   97.95   96.33
  D (135,000)                 87.16         68.51^a^                    92.80                  79.13^a^    98.15   93.00
  SEM                         1.113           1.683                     0.812                    1.563     0.323   0.654
  *p*-value                                                                                                       
  (Combined)                  0.705           0.011                     0.254                    0.014     0.985   0.133
  Linear                      0.757           0.002                     0.975                    0.009     0.833   0.065
  Quadratic                   0.619           0.234                     0.052                    0.046     0.937   0.138

Within a column, values not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (P\<0.05).

Concentration of vitamins A and E in liver and yolk {#s3d}
---------------------------------------------------

The vitamin A concentration in liver and yolk (*p*\<0.001) linearly increased with increasing vitamin A levels in Experiment 1, both in week 12 and week 20 ([Table 6](#pone-0105677-t006){ref-type="table"}). However, increasing levels of vitamin A linearly decreased the concentrations of α-, γ-, and total tocopherol in the yolk (*p*\<0.01) and α-tocopherol in the liver (*p*\<0.05). Total vitamin E content in the liver tended to decrease with increased vitamin A supplementation (*p*\<0.10). The concentrations of δ-tocopherol in yolk and γ- and δ-tocopherol in the liver linearly increased with increasing vitamin A levels ([Table 7](#pone-0105677-t007){ref-type="table"}).

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t006

###### Vitamin A concentration in liver and yolk (mg/100 g).

![](pone.0105677.t006){#pone-0105677-t006-6}

                      Vitamin A in liver (mg/100 g)   Vitamin A in yolk (mg/100 g)             
  ------------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------------ ---------- ----------
  A (5,000 IU/kg)               45.84^a^                        41.24^a^             0.68^a^    0.58^a^
  B (10,000 IU/kg)              54.80^ab^                      54.70^ab^             0.69^a^    0.64^a^
  C (15,000 IU/kg)              86.36^bc^                      83.26^abc^            0.72^ab^   0.76^bc^
  D (20,000 IU/kg)              82.48^bc^                      94.98^bc^             0.83^bc^   0.73^b^
  E (25,000 IU/kg)              110.80^c^                      121.36^cd^            0.87^c^    0.85^cd^
  F (30,000 IU/kg)              160.40^d^                      144.56^d^             0.95^c^    0.83^cd^
  G (35,000 IU/kg)              163.40^d^                      195.20^e^             0.85^bc^   0.87^d^
  SEM                             8.272                          9.893                0.023      0.022
  *p*-value                                                                                    
  (Combined)                     \<0.001                        \<0.001              \<0.001    \<0.001
  Linear                         \<0.001                        \<0.001              \<0.001    \<0.001
  Quadratic                       0.201                          0.176                0.220      0.066

Within a column, values not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (P\<0.05).

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t007

###### Vitamin E concentration in liver and yolk (mg/100 g).

![](pone.0105677.t007){#pone-0105677-t007-7}

                        Yolk        Liver                                                              
  ------------------ ----------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ----------- ---------- -------
  A (5,000 IU/kg)     14.62^c^     0.96^c^    0.11^a^    15.68^b^    2.42^d^     0.53^ab^    0.07^a^    3.02
  B (10,000 IU/kg)    11.74^bc^   0.80^bc^    0.16^ab^   12.7^ab^   1.38^abcd^    0.45^a^    0.11^a^    1.93
  C (15,000 IU/kg)    10.25^ab^   0.81^bcd^   0.21^b^    11.26^a^   1.69^bcd^    0.78^abc^   0.19^ab^   2.67
  D (20,000 IU/kg)    10.36^ab^   0.82^cd^    0.29^c^    11.48^a^    2.01^cd^    1.01^abc^   0.25^ab^   3.28
  E (25,000 IU/kg)    8.05^ab^     0.61^a^    0.34^cd^   9.02^a^    1.11^abc^    1.19^bc^    0.36^b^    2.62
  F (30,000 IU/kg)    8.29^ab^    0.68^abc^   0.38^de^   9.36^a^     0.70^ab^     1.30^c^    0.24^ab^   2.23
  G (35,000 IU/kg)     7.51^a^    0.62^ab^    0.45^e^    8.58^a^     0.37^a^     0.60^ab^    0.31^ab^   1.28
  SEM                   0.591       0.032      0.023      0.591       0.172        0.092      0.033     0.202
  *p*-value                                                                                            
  (Combined)            0.006       0.003     \<0.001     0.007       0.005        0.036      0.127     0.132
  Linear               \<0.001     \<0.001    \<0.001    \<0.001     \<0.001       0.042      0.008     0.091
  Quadratic             0.226       0.508      0.845      0.230       0.459        0.030      0.283     0.116

Within a column, values not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (P\<0.05).

Serum antibody against NDV {#s3e}
--------------------------

Different levels of supplemental vitamin A did not affect anti-NDV antibody titer at week 4 or week 8. However, vitamin A levels quadratically affected NDV antibody production at week 12 ([Table 8](#pone-0105677-t008){ref-type="table"}) (*p*\<0.05).

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t008

###### Antibody response to Newcastle disease virus (NDV).

![](pone.0105677.t008){#pone-0105677-t008-8}

  Treatment           Week 4   Week 8   Week 12    Week 16    Week 20
  ------------------ -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------
  A (5,000 IU/kg)      9.80     8.25    6.33^a^    9.25^b^     6.80
  B (10,000 IU/kg)     8.80     7.60    7.00^a^    8.00^ab^    7.20
  C (15,000 IU/kg)     9.80     7.00    6.67^a^    8.25^ab^    7.40
  D (20,000 IU/kg)     9.20     6.80    8.33^bc^   6.75^a^     7.20
  E (25,000 IU/kg)     9.40     7.20    8.75^c^    6.60^a^     7.60
  F (30,000 IU/kg)     8.80     7.40    7.33^ab^   6.80^a^     7.80
  G (35,000 IU/kg)     9.60     6.80    6.75^a^    7.40^a^     8.00
  SEM                 0.136    0.190     0.223      0.233      0.138
  *p*-value                                                  
  (Combined)          0.195    0.478     0.003      0.012      0.282
  Linear              0.143    0.660     0.002      0.142      0.975
  Quadratic           0.108    0.731     0.044      0.603      0.936

Within a column, values not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (P\<0.05).

Peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation {#s3f}
-----------------------------------------

Dietary vitamin A levels had a significant effect on peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation (*p*\<0.05), which tended to decrease at week 12 (*p*\<0.10) and linearly decreased at week 24 with increasing vitamin A levels ([Table 9](#pone-0105677-t009){ref-type="table"}) (*p*\<0.05).

10.1371/journal.pone.0105677.t009

###### Peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation, liver functions, and mRNA expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR).

![](pone.0105677.t009){#pone-0105677-t009-9}

  Vitamin A Treatment (IU/kg)    Con A   VDR mRNA   AST (U/L)   TBIL (µmol/L)                   
  ----------------------------- ------- ---------- ----------- --------------- -------- ------- -------
  A (5,000)                      1.14    1.15^ab^    1.46^a^       264.00       261.75   6.14    5.80
  B (15,000)                     1.19    1.29^b^     1.58^a^       280.17       274.75   5.82    6.55
  C (45,000)                     1.16    1.16^ab^   2.29^ab^       252.40       267.67   7.40    3.60
  D (135,000)                    0.82    0.83^a^     2.54^b^       283.00       371.80   4.65    7.03
  SEM                            0.065    0.063       0.172         7.493       12.082   0.352   0.311
  *p*-value                                                                                     
  Combined                       0.173    0.075       0.053         0.278       0.105    0.035   0.001
  Linear                         0.089    0.044       0.704         0.602       0.057    0.246   0.668
  Quadratic                      0.136    0.052       0.435         0.558       0.206    0.037   0.033

AST =  aspartate amino transferase, TBIL =  total bilirubin.

Within a column, values not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (P\<0.05).

Vitamin D receptor mRNA expression {#s3g}
----------------------------------

Vitamin D receptor mRNA expression linearly increased with increasing levels of vitamin A in the diet ([Table 9](#pone-0105677-t009){ref-type="table"}) (*p*\<0.05).

Serum biochemistry {#s3h}
------------------

In week 12, serum total bilirubin quadratically changed with increasing supplementation of vitamin A, but AST did not change ([Table 9](#pone-0105677-t009){ref-type="table"}). In week 24, AST tended to increase linearly (*p*\<0.10) and serum total bilirubin quadratically changed with increasing supplementation of vitamin A (*p*\<0.05).

Discussion {#s4}
==========

Laying performance of broiler breeders and liver function {#s4a}
---------------------------------------------------------

The vitamin A requirement for laying hens recommended by the NRC (1994) was 3,000 IU/kg based on 100 g daily feed intake [@pone.0105677-National1]. However, Coşkun et al. reported that increasing levels of vitamin A (0, 4,000, 12,000, and 24,000 IU/kg of diet) had no significant effect on egg production in laying hens for 72 weeks [@pone.0105677-Cokun1]. Mendonça et al. supplemented with 5,000; 10,000; 15,000; 20,000; and 25,000 IU/kg retinyl acetate in Hy-line white laying hens for 15 weeks, and found no adverse effects on egg weight, egg production, or feed consumption [@pone.0105677-MendonaJr1]. Their work indicated that supplementing with dietary vitamin A at a level more than eight times that of the NRC (1994) did not affect the laying performance of laying hens. However, March et al. reported that supplementation with higher levels of vitamin A (210,000 and 410,000 IU/kg) significantly decreased egg production and egg weight [@pone.0105677-March1].

In the current study, supplementation of 35,000 IU/kg dietary vitamin A, more than 11 times the level recommended by the NRC (1994) [@pone.0105677-National1], did not affect the laying performance of broiler breeders (data not shown). However, when vitamin A was supplemented at 45,000 IU/kg, 15 times the NRC\'s recommendation (1994), or at 135,000 IU/kg, 45 times the NRC\'s recommendation (1994), egg weight was significantly decreased ([Table 3](#pone-0105677-t003){ref-type="table"}), compared with egg weight from birds that received only 5,000 IU/kg of supplemental dietary vitamin A. This result agreed with the findings of the NRC (1987) [@pone.0105677-NRC1] that vitamin A has certain toxic effects.

Although the NRC (1994) [@pone.0105677-National1] did not recommend a daily requirement of vitamin A for broiler breeders, commercial broiler breeder companies recommend daily supplementation of 10,000 IU/kg [@pone.0105677-ROSS1], and usually a much higher level ofvitamin A is supplemented to broiler or broiler breeder diets. Therefore, we suggest that 35,000 IU/kg is the maximum tolerable dose of vitamin A for broiler breeders. Supplementation with different levels of vitamin A linearly increased vitamin A in the liver and yolk ([Tables 6](#pone-0105677-t006){ref-type="table"}, [7](#pone-0105677-t007){ref-type="table"}), confirming the results of previous studies that egg retinol increased linearly with increasing dietary vitamin A levels [@pone.0105677-MendonaJr1], [@pone.0105677-Jiang1], [@pone.0105677-Surai1], [@pone.0105677-Livingston1]. The liver is the major storage site for vitamin A, containing 80% of total body reserves when vitamin A status is normal [@pone.0105677-Blomhoff1]. Excessive amounts of vitamin A retained in liver may exert a hepatotoxic effect. McCuaig and Motzok showed that the livers of broilers became light and clay-colored when the birds were fed high doses of 325,0000 IU/kg vitamin A [@pone.0105677-McCuaig1].

Serum AST and TBIL are commonly measured clinically during diagnostic liver function tests to determine liver health. The levels of serum AST generally increase with muscle or liver damage [@pone.0105677-Sohail1]. The current study found that excessive dietary vitamin A increased serum AST, and that dietary vitamin A quadratically affected TBIL concentration. The decreased egg weight in birds fed excessive vitamin A might be attributed to the affected liver function.

Egg quality and hatchability {#s4b}
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March et al. found that excessive vitamin A prolonged incubation time, markedly depressed hatchability, and caused developmental abnormalities in embryos, including hemorrhaging that resulted in embryonic death [@pone.0105677-March1]. An excess of vitamin A during embryonic development was also found to result in congenital malformations [@pone.0105677-ClagettDame1]. In the current study, increasing vitamin levels from 5,000 IU/kg to 35,000 IU/kg did not affect hatchability of eggs. However, supplementing vitamin A at 45,000 IU/kg significantly decreased hatchability from week 24, and supplementing vitamin A at 135,000 IU/kg significantly decreased the hatchability of hatched or fertile eggs from week 12.

The current study found that excessive vitamin A affected concentrations in the yolk and liver of four tocopherols, naturally occurring fat-soluble nutrients. This effect may be related to vitamin absorption in the intestine and metabolism by the liver. Vitamin A decreased the α-tocopherol concentration in yolk and in liver. Previous work found that increased levels of dietary vitamin A had adverse effects on the absorption of vitamin E [@pone.0105677-Jiang1], [@pone.0105677-Surai1], [@pone.0105677-Sklan2], which includes α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocopherol and four compounds with tocotrienol structure bearing three double bonds in the phytyl side chain (α-,β-,γ-,δ-tocotrienol). Of these, δ-tocopherol has the highest antioxidant effects, and α-tocopherol has the highest biological activity and molar concentration of lipid-soluble antioxidants in animals [@pone.0105677-Drevon1].

It is known that all forms of vitamin E are absorbed in the intestine, but there are several unknowns concerning metabolism. α-tocopherol is absorbed by a passive diffusion process from the small intestine to the enterocyte [@pone.0105677-Krishnan1]. Dietary retinoic acid reduced the intestinal absorption of α-tocopherol and promoted its oxidation [@pone.0105677-Bieri1] or increased vitamin E turnover [@pone.0105677-Sklan2]. Research on vitamin E absorption found that excess α-tocopherol did not reduce the absorption of γ-tocopherol [@pone.0105677-Leonard1]. In addition, it is known that the liver preferentially secretes α- but not γ- tocopherol into plasma. γ-tocopherol is metabolized to γ- carboxy ethyl hydroxy chroman [@pone.0105677-MacMahon1]. This may be the reason that α-tocopherol and total tocopherol in yolk and liver decreased as vitamin A levels increased; however, δ-tocopherol in yolk and γ- and δ-tocopherol in liver linearly increased with increasing vitamin A levels. These results suggest that we should consider the reduced biological activity and anti-sterility activity caused by α-tocopherol, and improved antioxidant effects caused by δ-tocopherol, when the diet is supplemented with higher level of vitamin A.

The eggshell performs the double function of protecting the embryo from external damage and supplying calcium during embryo development. Decreased eggshell thickness increased early embryonic mortality [@pone.0105677-Mroz1]. Mendonça et al. reported that supplementation of 5,000; 10,000; 15,000; 20,000; or 25,000 IU/kg retinyl acetate had no adverse effects on specific gravity, shell index, or albumen quality of eggs [@pone.0105677-MendonaJr1]. However, the eggshell thickness of eggs from hens that received 5,000 or 20,000 IU/kg of retinyl acetate was statistically lower than those of a control group.

The current study found that supplementation of 5,000--35,000 IU/kg of vitamin A did not affect eggshell thickness in Experiment 1 (data not shown); however, supplementation of 5,000--135,000 IU/kg of vitamin A in week 24 quadratically affected eggshell thickness (*p*\<0.05) and strength in Experiment 2 (*p*\<0.10). The eggshell thickness and strength were mainly related to calcification. High levels of vitamin A had a detrimental effect on calcification, and reduced calcium absorption affected eggshell thickness, especially over long-term feeding trials. This effect may be the reason for the difference in egg quality between Experiment1 and Experiment 2.

Veltmann et al. showed that birds tolerated as much as 30 times the recommended level of vitamin A (45,000 IU/kg) without showing compromised performance or skeletal development [@pone.0105677-Veltmann1]. However, high levels of dietary vitamin A (45,000 IU/kg) interfered with the utilization of vitamin D~3~, 25-(OH)D~3~ and 1,25-(OH)~2~D~3~, and decreased bone ash (p\<0.001) [@pone.0105677-Aburto1]. There is also a correlation between high intake of vitamin A and low bone mineral density [@pone.0105677-Forsmo1]. Lind et al. found that excessive vitamin A resulted in a reduction of long bone diameter and increase in spontaneous fractures of rats [@pone.0105677-Lind1]. High levels of dietary vitamin A also resulted in congenital malformations during embryonic development [@pone.0105677-ClagettDame1].

Excessive supplementation with vitamin A might increase bone fracture risk by depleting vitamin D [@pone.0105677-CaireJuvera1]. Vitamin D receptor, the transport protein of vitamin D, plays an important role in the absorption of vitamin D. The current study showed that excessive levels of vitamin A increased mRNA expression of vitamin D receptor, which might be a compensatory mechanism for poor vitamin D absorption at the molecular level.

In the current study, yolk color was linearly decreased by increased dietary vitamin A ([Table 4](#pone-0105677-t004){ref-type="table"}). Yolk color is mainly affected by a large component of yellow, fat-soluble pigments, such as carotenes, *β*-carotene, and xanthophylls. The absorption of these fat-soluble pigments, like the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, might be reduced by a high intake of vitamin A [@pone.0105677-MendonaJr1], [@pone.0105677-Jiang1], [@pone.0105677-Surai1].

Immune function and serum antibody against NDV {#s4c}
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Vitamin A also promotes antibody responses to T-cell--dependent antigens [@pone.0105677-Catharine1] and increases protective antitumor immunity through mechanisms such as induction of cell differentiation and enhancement of migration to lymph nodes [@pone.0105677-Mullin1].

Previous work showed that excessive vitamin A intake has a detrimental effect on the immune function of birds [@pone.0105677-Freidman1]. The current study showed that supplementation of vitamin A at 135,000 IU/kg significantly decreased peripheral blood T-cell proliferation activity at week 24. Supplemental levels of vitamin A above the tolerable dose could impair T-cell immunity.

Supplementation of vitamin A from 5,000 IU/kg to 20,000 IU/kg appears to increase the NDV antibody titer, but supplementation from 20,000 to 35,000 IU/kg decreased the NDV antibody titer. Lessard et al. found that NDV antibody titers were significantly increased as laying broiler hens consumed 1,500 IU/kg to 15,000 IU/kg of vitamin A *ad libitum* [@pone.0105677-Lessard1]. Their study indicated that supplementation of excessive vitamin A was detrimental to humoral immunity.

Conclusions {#s5}
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Excessive supplementation of vitamin A could decrease liver function, reproductive performance, and immune response of broiler breeder hens. The maximum safety tolerable dose of vitamin A for broiler breeders is 35,000 IU/kg.The mechanism of dietary addition of vitamin A affected the α-, γ-, and total tocopherol concentrations in yolk or in liver requires further study.

[^1]: **Competing Interests:**The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

[^2]: Conceived and designed the experiments: YG. Performed the experiments: AR. Analyzed the data: AR YW JY. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: AR SG. Contributed to the writing of the manuscript: JY.
