Dietary L-carnitine Improves Pulmonary Hypertensive Response in Broiler Chickens Subjected to Hypobaric Hypoxia

Abstract

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of L-carnitine on pulmonary hypertensive response in broiler chickens reared at high altitude and exposed to hypobaric hypoxia. A total of 192 day-old male broilers (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments and 4 replicates of 12 chicks. A basal diet composed of mainly corn and soybean meal was formulated and served as a control. Three additional treatments were made by supplementing graded levels of L-carnitine (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg). Chicks received dietary treatments at free access from 1 to 42 days of age. Results indicated that feeding L-carnitine at 100 mg/kg caused a significant increase in plasma nitric oxide (NO) with concomitant decrease in plasma malonedialdehyde (MDA). The Lead II electrocardiogram indicated reductions of S wave amplitude for all three doses of L-carnitine relative to the control and the difference between the birds that received L-carnitine at 50 mg/kg and the control was significant (P＜0.05). The right ventricular weight ratio (RV/TV) tended to decline when L-carnitine supplemented to diets. In conclusion, L-carnitine reduced ascites mortality in broiler chickens by increased NO production, reduced MDA concentration, and reduced right ventricular hypertrophy.

L-carnitine supplementation decreases lipid peroxidation and improves cardiopulmonary function in broiler chickens reared at high altitude

“…Reactive oxygen species cause damage to cell membranes. Previous reports (Tan et al, 2008;Yousefi et al, 2013) further support this observation. Tan et al (2008) indicated that addition of a 100 mg/kg L-carnitine supplement to the diet resulted in significantly lower plasma MDA in broiler chickens.…”

“…Tan et al (2008) indicated that addition of a 100 mg/kg L-carnitine supplement to the diet resulted in significantly lower plasma MDA in broiler chickens. Yousefi et al (2013) demonstrated that plasma MDA concentration was significantly decreased by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine ranging from 50 to 150 mg/kg of diet in broiler chickens. Inhibition of ROS generation or scavenging of ROS has been shown to inhibit the hypoxiainduced proliferation in the pulmonary vasculature and, consequently, pulmonary hypertension (Springer et al, 2000).…”

Combined effects of guanidinoacetic acid, coenzyme Q10 and taurine on growth performance, gene expression and ascites mortality in broiler chickens

“…In the interim, CoQ 10 alone or with combination of TAU plunged ascites mortality to levels even lower that the control. There is a great deal of evidence on the role of CoQ 10 in cardiometabolic disorders (Zozina, Covantev, Goroshko, Krasnykh, & Kukes, 2018) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (Sharp et al, 2014;Yousefi, Khajali, Hassanpour, & Khajali, 2013) through improved mitochondria function and enhanced NO production.…”

Dietary L-Carnitine Supplement Counteracts Pulmonary Hypertensive Response in Broiler Chickens Fed Reduced-Protein Diets and Subjected to Cool Condition and Hypobaric Hypoxia

“…Eight chicks per treatment were randomly selected at day 40 and electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded. The electrocardiograph (Kenz ECG 110, SUZUKEN CO., LTD. Nagoya, Japan) was standardized at 10 mm＝1 mV with a chart speed of 50 mm/s (Hassanpour et al, 2009;Yousefi et al, 2013). Leads II was recorded for every chicken, and the amplitude of the T, R and S waves were measured.…”

“…Rodehutscord et al (2002) reported that LC supplement (80 mg/kg) did not significantly improve the efficiencies of energy and protein utilization, suggesting LC may have other important biological impacts. Yousefi et al (2013) indicated that LC supplement (100 mg/kg) increased circulatory level of nitric oxide (NO), an important cellular signaling molecule involved in many physiological processes. Nitric oxide is also a powerful vasodilator that prevents pulmonary hypertension (Izadinia et al, 2010;Khajali et al, 2011a).…”