摘要Medium-chain fatty acids and their derivatives are natural ingredients that support immunological functions in animals.The effects of glycerol monolaurate(GML)on intestinal innate immunity and associated molecular mechanisms were investigated using a chicken embryo model.Sixty-four Arbor Acres broiler embryos were randomly allocated into four groups.On embryonic day 17.5,the broiler embryos were administered with 9 mg of GML,which was followed by a 12-h incubation period and a 12-h challenge with 32 μg of lipopolysaccharide(LPS).On embryonic day 18.5,the jejunum and ileum were harvested.Results indicated that GML reversed the LPS-induced decline in villus height and upregulated the expression of mucin 2(P＜0.05).GML decreased LPS-induced malondialdehyde pro-duction and boosted antioxidant enzyme activity(P＜0.05).GML alleviated LPS-stimulated intestinal secretion of interleukin(IL)-1 β,IL-6,and tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a)(P＜0.05).GML also normalized LPS-induced changes in the gene expression of Toll-like receptor 4,nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65),cyclooxygenase-2,NOD-like receptor protein 3,IL-18,zonula occludens 1,and occludin(P＜0.05).GML enhanced as well the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase α1 and claudin 1(P＜0.05).In conclusion,GML improved intestinal morphology and antioxidant status by alleviating inflammatory responses and modulating NF-κB signaling in LPS-challenged broiler embryos.