Changes in heat shock protein 70 expression and blood characteristics in transported broiler chickens as affected by housing and early age feed restriction

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of 2 types of housing systems and early age feed restriction on heat shock protein (hsp) 70 expression and blood parameters in broiler chickens subjected to road transportation. On d 1, female chicks were housed either in windowless environmentally controlled chambers (temperature was set at 32 degrees C on d 1 and gradually reduced to 23 degrees C by d 21; CH) or in conventional open-sided houses (OH) with cyclic temperatures (minimum, 24 degrees C; maximum, 34 degrees C). Equal number of chicks from each housing system were subjected to either ad libitum feeding or 60% feed restriction on d 4, 5, and 6 (FR). On d 42, all of the birds were crated and transported for 6 h. Birds raised in OH had smaller increases in heterophil:lymphocyte ratios and plasma corticosterone concentrations than those of CH. Subjecting birds to FR dampened heterophil:lymphocyte ratios and corticosterone reactions to transportation. After 4 h of transportation, the OH birds had greater hsp 70 expression than their CH counterparts. Within the CH, the FR chicks showed higher hsp 70 density than those of the ad libitum-fed group. Except for glucose, housing system had a negligible effect on serum levels of cholesterol, potassium, and chloride. Collectively, the results suggest that the improved tolerance to transport stress in OH and FR chicks could be associated with better hsp 70 expression.

Effects of Molybdenum or/and Cadmium on mRNA Expression Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and HSPs in Duck Spleens

“…When living organisms are exposed to various stress conditions, a group of antistress proteins known as heat shock proteins (HSPs) and inflammatory cytokines will be rapidly synthesized [15]. Metal pollution is a tremendous problem faced by the local government in southern Jiangxi Province.Molybdenum and cadmium are the main pollutants in the tailings in the process of mining, which pose hazardously threats to animals and public health.…”

Telomeric DNA quantity, DNA damage, and heat shock protein gene expression as physiological stress markers in chickens

“…especially, birds are generally thought to have better defense mechanisms against oxidative insults and generate reduced oxidants and advanced glycosylation end products (Ku and Sohal, 1993;Iqbal et al, 1999). It is well known that various husbandry stressors, such as restricted feeding and a high stocking density, have adverse effects on chicken performance (de Jong et al, 2002;Zulkifli et al, 2002;Al-Aqil and Zulkifli, 2009).…”

The Co-induced Effects of Molybdenum and Cadmium on Antioxidants and Heat Shock Proteins in Duck Kidneys

“…the synthesis of most proteins is retarded, but a group of highly conserved proteins known as heat shock proteins (HSPs) are rapidly synthesized [15]. As molecular chaperones, HSPs perform important functions in the folding/unfolding and translocation of proteins as well as in the assembly/disassembly of protein complexes [16].…”