Characterization of differential gene expression of broiler chicken to thermal stress in discrete developmental stages

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to high temperatures is linked to a range of physiological responses in broiler chickens including reduced disease resistance, low growth rate, and high mortality rate. In this study, we investigated the effect of heat stress on gene expression levels in 4-week-old and 6-week-old chickens each exposed to environments conditioned at thermoneutral (21 °C) and high (32 °C) temperatures. The analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using microarray revealed that genes underlying reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell nutrient intake, glucose metabolism, and circadian rhythm were differentially regulated in association with heat stress. We also found that the deviation in expression levels across the transcriptome in response to heat stress was significantly stronger ( P < 2.2×10 −16 ) in 6-week-olds compared to younger chickens. We finally observed a significant trend ( r = 0.78, P < 2.2×10 −16 ) that genes with a higher estimate of expression in the microarray were more likely to have a higher expression level in RNA-sequencing. Together, our findings provide comprehensive insights into the physiology involved in stress responses at varying developmental stages, which may facilitate chicken breeding to maximize their productivity under adverse conditions.

Comparative transcriptome analysis between long- and short-term survival after pig-to-monkey cardiac xenotransplantation reveals differential heart failure development

“…Therefore, comparing gene expression patterns between long- and short-term survival periods in xenotransplanted hearts may help understand what determines the survival of cynomolgus monkeys transplanted with hearts from transgenic pigs. RNA-seq is one of useful methods for understanding biological mechanisms (Ahn et al 2022 ; Kim et al 2022 ).…”

A Technical Report on the Potential Effects of Heat Stress on Antioxidant Enzymes Activities, Performance and Small Intestinal Morphology in Broiler Chickens Administered Probiotic and Ascorbic Acid during the Hot Summer Season

“…Thermal stress is a considerable problem experienced globally, especially during the summer in the sub-tropics and tropics [1,2]. Heat stress in poultry production severely affects the profitability of both small-and large-scale farms due to lower productivity and growth in the stressed birds [3,4]. High ambient temperature (AT) induces an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) above the levels that the body can tolerate, with resultant oxidative stress [5].…”