Thermal Manipulation During Brolier Chicken Embryogenesis Increases the Basal mRNA levels of antioxidant factors and Alters Their Production Dynamics during Thermal Stress

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of thermal manipulation during embryonic days 12–18 on the kinetics of the liver mRNA levels of antioxidant factors (Catalase, Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide Dismutases (SOD)) during thermal stress. One thousand fertile chicken eggs were randomly divided into four groups: Hubbard Control group (37.8°C), Hubbard TM (39°C for 18 h), Cobb Control group (37.8°C), Cobb TM (39°C for 18 h). On post‐hatch days 14 and 28 of age, 30 randomly selected chicks from each group were thermally stressed at 41.0°C for 6 h while another 30 randomly selected chicks from each group were kept under thermo‐neutral conditions. The Tc of TM chicks was only numerically lower than that of the control during the study period. However, during TS at days 14 and 28 of age, the Tc of TM chicks was significantly lower than that of the control. On post‐hatch days 14 and 28, the basal mRNA levels of antioxidant factors were significantly higher than those of the control. Furthermore, during TS, rapid increases in the mRNA levels of antioxidant factors in the TM groups were observed. These results indicate that, as well as altering the basal mRNA levels of antioxidant factors during the first week post‐hatch, TM also altered the dynamics of the mRNA expression of antioxidant factors, which was associated with improved acquisition of thermotolerance during thermal stress.Support or Funding InformationDeanship of research/Jordan University of Science and Technology (Project#: 125/2017)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.