Comparison of serum biochemical parameters between two broiler chicken lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content1

Abstract

In humans, obesity is associated with increased or decreased levels of serum biochemical indicators. However, the relationship is not as well understood in chickens. Due to long-term intense selection for fast growth rate, modern broilers have the problem of excessive fat deposition, exhibiting biochemical or metabolic changes. In the current study, the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF) were used to identify differences in serum biochemical parameters between the 2 lines. A total of 18 serum biochemical indicators were investigated in the 16th, 17th, and 18th generation populations of NEAUHLF, and the genetic parameters of these serum biochemical indicators were estimated. After analyzing the data from these 3 generations together, the results showed that the levels of 16 of the tested serum biochemical parameters were significantly different between the lean and fat birds. In the fat birds, serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL-C:low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total bile acid, total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate transaminase (AST):alanine transaminase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), uric acid, and creatinine were very significantly higher (P < 0.01), whereas LDL-C, albumin:globulin, glucose, AST, ALT, and free fatty acids concentrations in serum were very significantly lower than those in the lean birds (P < 0.01). Of these 16 serum biochemical parameters, 5 (LDL-C, HDL-C:LDL-C, total bile acid, albumin, and albumin:globulin) had high heritabilities (0.58 ≤ h2 ≤ 0.89), 6 (HDL-C, total protein, globulin, AST:ALT, GGT, and creatinine) had moderate heritabilities (0.29 ≤ h2 ≤ 0.48), and the remaining 5 had low heritabilities (h2 < 0.20). Serum HDL-C, HDL-C:LDL-C, and glucose had higher positive genetic correlation coefficients (rg) with abdominal fat traits (0.30 ≤ rg ≤ 0.80), whereas serum globulin, AST, and uric acid showed higher negative genetic correlations with abdominal fat traits (–0.62 ≤ rg ≤ –0.30). The remaining 10 serum biochemical parameters had lower genetic correlations with abdominal fat traits (–0.30 < rg < 0.30). In conclusion, we identified serum HDL-C and HDL-C:LDL-C levels as potential biomarkers for selection of lean birds. These findings will also be useful in future studies for investigating obesity and lipid metabolism in humans as well as in other animal species.

Genome-Wide Analysis of lncRNA and mRNA Expression During Differentiation of Abdominal Preadipocytes in the Chicken

“…Over the last 60 yr, the selection of economically important traits has been the main focus of breeding programs and significant genetic improvements have been achieved thus far (Dong et al 2015). Genetic selection for an enhanced growth rate in meat-type chickens ( Gallus gallus domesticus ) is usually accompanied by excessive adiposity that has a negative impact on both feed efficiency and carcass quality (Resnyk et al 2015).…”

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Red Algae Powder (Chondrus crispus) on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Lymphoid Organ Weights and Intestinal pH in Broilers

“…The T1 caused a decrease in abdominal fat pad in broilers; a decrease of this indicator is associated with the concentration of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and its influence on intestinal inflammation (Dong et al, 2015;Van den Borne et al, 2015). Thus, a high concentration of mucilages in these algae and its hypolipidemic effect could decrease this harmful serum lipoprotein and its incorporation in the tissues (Solominski et al, 2011;de Jesus Raposo et al, 2015).…”

Evaluation of different agroindustrial waste on the effect of different carcass characteristics and physiological and biochemical parameters in broilers chicken

“…[16] mention that molasses are a source of manganese which helps produce energy and increases good cholesterol indices, including it in the diet; this is consistent with the results obtained in the samples due to that showed higher index of cholesterol in the treatment of birds fed with molasses compared to control treatment. In addition, there is a direct relationship between glucose levels and cholesterol due to that carbohydrate is a source of energy in the liver and it is quickly converted to fat [25,26]. Excessive consumption of fats leads to accumulation of lipids in the hepatocytes, because of this, intake of high-fat diets or energy, are involved in the increase in cholesterol levels [27].…”