Caspase-1, -2, and -3 gene expression is enhanced in the heart and lung of chickens with pulmonary hypertension (ascites)

Abstract

To investigate the involvement of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of T3-induced pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens, caspase-1, -2, and -3 gene expressions were evaluated by semiquantitative RT-PCR in the lungs and left and right heart ventricles. One-day-old fast-growing chickens were randomly divided into 2 equal groups with 3 replicates per group. Chicks were reared for 7 weeks under standard conditions. T3 as a thyroid hormone was added to the ration after week 1 of rearing. Pulmonary hypertension was induced at 49 days based on RV/TV ratio index. The caspase genes were constitutively expressed in the lung and right and left ventricles of intact and pulmonary hypertensive broiler chickens. The relative amount of caspase-1, -2, and -3 mRNA in the lung and right and left ventricles of the heart was higher in pulmonary hypertensive broilers than in control broilers (P < 0.05). It is speculated that increased mRNA levels of caspase in the lungs and hearts of pulmonary hypertensive broilers could be evidence of upregulated apoptosis, which is involved in the pathophysiology of broiler chickens with pulmonary hypertension.