Impaired development of broiler chickens by stress mimicked by corticosterone exposure (original) (raw)
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Effect of Dietary Protein and Fat Levels on Fattening of Corticosterone-Injected Broiler Chicks
Poultry Science, 1980
The effect of dietary composition on fattening of corticosterone-injected broilers was studied with Hubbard male chicks. Corticosterone was injected daily from 26 days of age during 9 days at a concentration of 600 ng/bird/day. Dietary energy to protein (E:P) ratio or fat level did not significantly affect body weight gain, abdominal fat pad size, skin dry matter, or liver parameters in corticosterone-injected chicks. However, corticosterone-injected birds fed the diet containing the narrower E:P ratio had smaller livers which also contained less fat than chicks fed the diet with a wide E:P ratio. This effect, although consistant in three experiments, was significant (P<.01) only in one.
Effect of feeding different oils on plasma corticosterone in broiler chickens
Acta Veterinaria Hungarica, 2015
A study was conducted to examine the effects of different oils on the plasma corticosterone concentrations of broiler chickens fed ad libitum or deprived of feed for 24 hours. A total of 36 Ross broilers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments at 10 days of age and fed a grower diet supplemented with 60 g/kg soybean oil (rich in linoleic acid, C18:2n–6), linseed oil (rich in a-linolenic acid, C18:3n–3) or fish oil (rich in C14:0, C16:0, C16:1n–7, C20:1n–9; eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, EPA, C20:5n–3 and DHA, C22:6n–3), respectively, for 18 days. Dietary supplementation of fish oil resulted in lower (P < 0.05) baseline plasma corticosterone levels of chickens fed ad libitum for 18 days compared to soybean and linseed oil supplementations. Feed deprivation for 24 h induced a significant (P < 0.05) increase in corticosterone concentration in every treatment group compared to the ad libitum-fed birds. The hormone levels of feed-deprived birds di...
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2004
The effects of long-term dietary administration of corticosterone (CORT) on the induction of oxidative injury in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) were evaluated. The experimental broiler chickens were fed with a diet supplemented with 30 mg CORT/kg diet for 2 weeks from 14 days of age onwards, while control chickens continued to consume the control diet. The growth performance parameters were recorded weekly, and a blood sample was obtained from eight birds of both groups before CORT administration and at 3, 7 and 14 days after treatment. The results showed that chronic CORT administration resulted in enhanced proteolysis and gluconeogenesis. Furthermore, CORT administration may initially induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as indirectly reflected by an increase in lipid peroxidation. However, the significantly increased plasma uric acid (UA) and ceruloplasmin (CP) levels after 3 days of treatment indicates an enhancement of the nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity during stress, and in this way, the development of a more severe oxidative injury is alleviated. Broiler chickens seem to adapt to high circulating CORT levels in terms of their redox homeostasis after 3 days of treatment under the present experimental conditions. D
PloS one, 2017
The massive meat production of broiler chickens make them continuously exposed to potential stressors that stimulate releasing of stress-related hormones like corticosterone (CORT) which is responsible for specific pathways in biological mechanisms and physiological activities. Therefore, this research was conducted to evaluate a wide range of responses related to broiler performance, immune function, plasma biochemistry, related gene expressions and cell death morphology during and after a 7-day course of CORT injection. A total number of 200 one-day-old commercial Cobb broiler chicks were used in this study. From 21 to 28 d of age, broilers were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups with 5 replicates of 20 birds each; the first group received a daily intramuscular injection of 5 mg/kg BW corticosterone dissolved in 0.5 ml ethanol:saline solution (CORT group), while the second group received a daily intramuscular injection of 0.5 ml ethanol:saline only (CONT group). Growth performan...
Physiology & Behavior, 2009
A corticosterone model was used to study the effects of chronic and repeated stress during the rearing phase on physiology, the onset of lay and performance of laying hens in the subsequent laying period. Two hundred and seventy Hy-line brown layer pullets were reared in environmentally controlled battery cages. At 7, 11, and 15 weeks of age birds were exposed for 1 week to the following treatments in drinking water: corticosterone dissolved in ethanol, ethanol, or untreated water. One week following each treatment, and at 35 weeks of age endocrine, metabolic and haematological tests were conducted. Body weight was measured throughout the study, and egg production was recorded daily throughout the laying period. Plasma corticosterone levels and heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratio were increased after each corticosterone delivery, showing the effectiveness of the treatment. When corticosterone delivery was interrupted, plasma corticosterone and H/L ratio were significantly reduced. Exposing birds to repeated and long-term corticosterone treatment significantly affected BW (P b 0.01), and relative organ weights (P b 0.01). Corticosterone delivery also resulted in increased blood levels of glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHOL), and triglyceride (TRG). Administration of corticosterone during the rearing phase delayed the onset of lay and decreased egg production at 35 weeks of age. These results demonstrate that oral corticosterone treatment affects hen physiology, reduces performance, and may model the effects of production stressors.
Adaptations of muscular biology in response to potential glucocorticoid treatment in broiler chicken
Journal of Advanced Biotechnology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2021
ABSTRACT: Poultry meat production has been dramatically increased in the last few decades due to increased population rate. Glucocorticoids decrease the growth of poultry and increase fat accumulation in liver and meat. In the coming days, it is important to consider the quality of meat to fulfill the increasing demand of proteins. The morphological and biometric properties of meat are associated with the quality of meat. The present research aimed to study the adaptations of muscular biology in response to potential glucocorticoid treatment in broiler chicken. This experiment was conducted into three groups of broilers (i.e. control group: homemade ration, group A: commercial broiler ration, and group B: a high dose of glucocorticoid at 7 mg/kg) started from day 7 to 28. Meat and blood samples were collected at day 7, 14, 21, and 28. For gross morphology, color and weight of meat were measured. Histomorphology of meat was studied under light microscope by Hematoxylin & Eosin stain. The length and width of meat fibers were measured using calibrated stage micrometer. The blood cholesterol dynamics was measured by spectrophotometer. The color of breast meat was more yellowish and lighter than thigh meat. The weight of meat was negatively affected by glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoid treatment negatively influenced the number of myofibers in breast meat, while positively influenced the thigh meat. Excess dietary glucocorticoid increased the biometry of breast meat and decreased that of thigh meat in broiler. Glucocorticoid non-significantly increased the serum cholesterol level. These findings advance our knowledge about the action of glucocorticoid in the muscular system and provide basis for novel therapies to prevent glucocorticoid-induced muscular atrophy.
INVOLVEMENT OF CHOLESTEROL, PROGESTERONE, CORTISOL AND LIPOPROTEINS IN METABOLIC CHANGES DURING EARLY ONTOGENESIS OF BROILER CHICKS OF AN INDUSTRIAL CROSS, 2017
Morphophysiological changes in body are influenced by environmental factors, what is more, the specific nature of the body reactions depends on the reaction rate and the stage of ontogenesis on which the physiological stimuli act (I. Schmalhausen, 1982). Also it is known that hormones participate in the regulation of metabolism, growth and development, in adaptation processes. We determined the concentration of high-density (HDL) and low density (LDL) lipoproteins directly involved in protein and lipid metabolism, total cholesterol (TCS), progesterone (P4), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and cortisol in blood plasma of Hubbard F15 broiler chickens at early postnatal ontogenesis using four groups of poultry of the industrial herd of Chebarkulskaya Ptitsa LLC (Chelyabinsk Province, Russian Federation), 10 animals in each, aged 1, 7, 23 and 42 days, respectively. The role and interrelations of these substances in metabolism were assessed using Pearson's correlation analysis and factor analysis by the principal components method with Varimax factor rotation. Thus, in 1-day aged chicks, the integration of factors HDL, LDL, TCS, P4 and cortisol involved in metabolic processes and metabolism regulations was noted with r-Pearson for P4 and Cortisol at r = 0.69, p = 0.027; for P4 and TCS at r = 0.82, p = 0.004; for HDL and LDL at r = 0.83, p = 0.003; and for HDL and TCS at r = -0.67, p = 0.033. On day 7 day, the principal components were progesterone and cortisol (r-Pearson for P4 and cortisol of r = 0.73, p = 0.016), and a cholesterol donation factor with LDL and TCS as the leading elements (r = 0.73, p < 0.05). In 23-day-old chicks the components which have become principal were HDL (r = 0.91, p < 0.05) and 17-OHP (r = 0.74, p < 0.05), which we attribute to growth, and also P4 (r = -0.88, p < 0.05) and cortisol (r = -0.77, p < 0.05) viewed as regulatory ones. On day 42 we revealed cholesterol donation factor (r-Pearson of r = 0.86, p = 0.002 for LDL and TCS) and an integral factor with the principal components HDL (r = 0.74, p < 0.05), P4 (r = 0.76, p < 0.05) and cortisol (r = 0.84, p <0.05). Thus, here we described the age-specific features of interaction between lipoproteins and hormones of cholesterol—progesterone—cortisol system involved in broiler metabolism, and found out the change of principal components and functional relationships among the hormones of progesterone group and lipoproteins during early growth, which, according to our thought, makes a physiological basis for chicken performance under commercial poultry production. In further studies, it can be reasonable to assess the role of these hormones and metabolites in the control of reaction norm and adaptive capability of broilers, and the physiological cost of adaptation (i.e. adequate or pathological response) to reproduction at commercial farms. Keywords: progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, cortisol, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, cholesterol, broiler chicks, early ontogenesis, homeostasis.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 1993
Immature male Japanese quail received repeated (chronic) injections of 0.8 I.U. corticotrophin (ACTH), 0.1 mg or 1 .O mg ~o~i~osterone (B), or 0.02 mg dexametha~ne (DXM) and were fasted then refed at the end of the treatment period. A subgroup of the DXM group were given a single (acute) injection of 0.8 I.U. ACTH or saline before refeeding. A further group that had been given repeated injections of saline were fasted at the end of the treatment period. 2. All chronic hormone treatments decreased the rate of body weight gain and increased food consumption. Only the higher dose of B increased the lipid content of the carcass. This treatment and DXM also decreased the non-fat content of the carcass. 3. Plasma glucose and free fatty acids (FFA) were not altered by the chronic hormone treatments except DXM which increased plasma FFA. Acute injections of ACTH increased levels of plasma FFA and glucose in both controls and DXM-treated quails. Plasma glucose, but not FFA, was decreased by fasting. 4. De now hepatic fatty acid synthesis in oitro was unaffected by the chronic treatments, whilst acute injections of ACTH or fasting decreased it. The endogenous release of glucocorticoids as a result of food shortage, starvation and other stressors, and the resulting catabolic effects are well documented (Cahill, 1971; Chester Jones et al., 1972; Loeb, 1976). The catabolic effects of glucocorticoids such as growth suppression and muscle wastage have been mimicked experimentally in the domestic fowl and rat (
Journal of Comparative Physiology B-biochemical Systemic and Environmental Physiology, 2001
Release of corticosterone in hungry kittiwake chicks facilitates begging and allows them to restore depleted energy reserves by increasing parental food provisioning. However, in order to avoid detrimental effects of chronic elevation of corticosterone, chicks might suppress adrenocortical activity in response to prolonged food shortages. In this study we examined temporal dynamics of corticosterone release in red-legged kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris) chicks exposed to prolonged restrictions in energy content and/or nutritional quality (low versus high lipid content) of their food. Starting at the age of 15 days, chicks were fed either high- or low-lipid fish at 40%, 65%, and 100% of ad libitum energy intake. Body mass measurements and baseline plasma samples were taken on a weekly basis after beginning of the treatment. After 3 weeks of treatment, chicks were exposed to a standardized acute handling and restraint stress protocol, where in addition to a baseline sample, three plasma samples were taken at intervals up to 50 min. We found that food-restricted chicks had lower body mass, chronically (during 2–3 weeks) elevated baseline and higher acute stress-induced levels of corticosterone compared to chicks fed ad libitum. Low lipid content of food further exacerbated these effects. An increase in baseline levels of corticosterone was observed within a week after energy requirements of food-restricted chicks exceeded their daily energy intake. A tendency for suppression of adrenocortical activity was observed in treatments fed low-lipid diets only at the end of the experiment. We suggest that nest-bound chicks, if food-stressed, might suffer deleterious effects of chronic elevation of corticosterone.
The effects of pre-slaughter stress depend on their specificity, intensity and length, but also on their perception by the bird, depending upon its genotype and previous experience, possibly in interaction with its specific slaughter age. The objective of the study was to better characterise their impact and dynamic, by measuring changes in plasma corticosterone levels in broilers from slow (S, female) and fast (F, Ff [female] & Fm [male line]) growth rate lines. The tests were done at their respective slaughter age, i.e. 42 (F) and 84 (S) days. In order to perform the tests, broilers have been captured, placed in containers and then submitted to different treatments. The treatments were: 1) keeping birds in rooms set up at various temperatures (20, 32 or 35°C), 2) transporting birds for a period of 120 or 210min. In the meantime, their respective maximal adrenal reactivity was estimated by measuring corticosterone response following the i.m injection of a single dose of immediate (IS) or delayed (DS) Synacthen (1-24 ACTH). Blood was collected from the wing vein, just after capture (T0), at various delays after treatment onset (15, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 360min) and-or on the shackle line. Corticosterone data were subjected to a multifactorial ANOVA and Fisher test (PLSD) post hoc tests if appropriate (ANOVA: P < 0.05). Basal corticosterone levels were significantly lower for genotype S and differences in sensitivity to stressors have been found. As an illustration, maximal corticosterone level was already reached after 15min of transportation for broilers Ff, whereas it was still at basal for genotype S. Longer transport duration and hanging on the shackle line (2min) induced comparable responses (30ng/ml). Interestingly, these responses to physical treatments were of comparable amplitudes to those resulting from the injection of a high dose of IS or DS, i.e. to maximal reactivity in both genotypes. Room temperature of 35°C only induced a significant rise in corticosterone in genotype Ff and this response was of limited amplitude (10-15ng/ml). In conclusion, these results indicate that high temperature had a limited effect in comparison to transportation or hanging on the shackle line, which were perceived as very intense stresses inducing maximal corticosterone levels. They also showed that broilers of genotype F were more rapidly affected by physical stress, which in turn suggest a higher degree of sensitivity.