Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the main pollutants in the atmosphere, which is a serious threat to human health. The decomposition of sulfur-containing organics in chicken houses could produce a large amount of H2S, thereby damaging poultry health. In this study, one-day-old broilers were selected and exposed to 4 or 20 ppm of H2S gas (0-3 weeks: 4 ± 0.5 ppm, 4-6 weeks: 20 ± 0.5 ppm). The spleen samples were collected immediately after the chickens were euthanized at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The histopathological and ultrastructural observations showed obvious necrosis characteristics of H2S-exposed spleens. H2S exposure suppressed GSH, CAT, T-AOC, and SOD activities; increased NO, H2O2, and MDA content and iNOS activity; and induced oxidative stress. ATPase activities and the expressions of energy metabolism-related genes were significantly decreased. Also, the expressions of related necroptosis (RIPK1, RIPK3, MLKL, TAK1, TAB2, and TAB3) were significantly increased, and the MAPK pathway was activated. Besides, H2S exposure activated the NF-κB classical pathway and induced TNF-α and IL-1β release. Taken together, we conclude that H2S exposure induces oxidative stress and energy metabolism dysfunction; evokes necroptosis; activates the MAPK pathway, eventually triggering the NF-κB pathway; and promotes inflammatory response in chicken spleens.
Highlights
Like PM2.5, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and other atmospheric pollutants, H2S is one of the main pollutants in the atmosphere [1, 2]
Many typical spleen damage features appeared in the tissues of the H2S group: spleens suffering from atmospheric H2S exposure showed white pulp hyperplasia (Figure 1(a), C), red pulp congestion was observed (Figure 1(a), E), the red pulp area had splenic cord hyperplasia (Figure 1(a), F), and lymphatic nodules multiplied (Figure 1(a), D)
Much of our knowledge of necroptosis is that it is mediated by receptor interacting protein kinase-1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) during caspase-8 inhibition
Summary
Like PM2.5, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and other atmospheric pollutants, H2S is one of the main pollutants in the atmosphere [1, 2]. The adverse effects of H2S on humans have been affirmed, including its respiratory toxicity, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity [4, 5]. Some workers in this occupational environment are inevitably exposed to H2S, which seriously affects human health. H2S is one of the harmful gases that the poultry industry pays close attention to; it has been reported that H2S in chicken houses significantly reduced meat quality and the laying rate of broilers [8]. The damaging effects of excessive H2S exposure on the trachea and jejunum of chickens have been suggested [9, 10]
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