Effects of supplemental ascorbic acid on performance, organ weight and plasma cholesterol concentration in broilers treated with propylthiouracil

Abstract

1. Four experiments were conducted to determine if dietary ascorbic acid (AA) affects body weight gain, food intake, organ weights, plasma cholesterol concentration, and ascorbic acid concentration in the plasma and liver of growing male broilers treated with an antithyroidal agent, propylthiouracil (PTU). 2. In the first experiment, 15 mg AA was administered daily into the crop of chicks fed on a diet supplemented with or without PTU (500 mg/kg). Administration of AA reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations in the PTU-treated chicks. 3. In the other three experiments, chicks were given the basal diet or an AA-containing (3 g/kg) diet supplemented with or without PTU (250 mg or 500 mg/kg). Feeding AA partly prevented the decreases in body weight gain, gain:food ratio and weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus in chicks fed on the 250 mg/kg PTU diet, and also prevented the increase in plasma cholesterol concentrations in chicks fed on the PTU diet. 4. These results suggest that AA improves the performance of chicks with experimentally induced hypothyroidism.

Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Acetylsalicylic Acid Supplementation on Performance of Broiler Chicks Exposed to Heat Stress

“…This was probably due to increase in weight of bursa due to ascorbic acid supplementation. Our finding was confirmed by Takahashi et al (1991) and Bashir et al (1998), who reported that supplementation of ascorbic acid increased the weight of bursa. On day 42, no significant differences were recorded among the mean values of BBWR of group A, B, C, D and E. This finding was in line with Muneer et al (1998) but was not similar with Lecui et al (1998), who reported that in heat stressed birds the weight of bursa and its ratio to body weight was lower.…”

“…Our this statement was probably due to increase in weight of thymus due to confirmed by Takhashi et al (1991) and Bashir et al ascorbic acid supplementation. Our this statement was (1998), who reported that ascorbic acid increased the confirmed by Takahashi et al (1991) and Bashir et al weight of spleen. (1998), who reported that ascorbic acid increased the On day 28, only the bursa of group B showed atrophy.…”

Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Cooling During Egg Incubation on Hatchability, Culling, Mortality, and the Body Weights of Broiler Chickens

“…Four approaches have been reported to study the effect of AA on growth and other traits in birds. These approaches are the addition of AA to diet (Pardue and Thaxton, 1986;Orban et al, 1993;Kutlu and Forbes, 1994) to the drinking water (Fletcher and Cason, 1991;Satterlee et al, 1994) injection of the hen (Meglasson and Hazelwood, 1982), and crop intubation (Takahashi et al, 1991). Although controversial, results of the previously cited work have shown that AA may be regarded as an anti-stress agent.…”

Uma perspectiva comportamental da termorregulação de emas (Rhea americana)

“…A radiação solar recebida pelo animal está ligada ao tempo que ele fica exposto no ambiente. Essa energia pode atingir o animal de duas maneiras: radiação solar direta (pela superfície corporal em ambiente aberto) e radiação solar refletida (através da retransmissão das superfícies dos elementos envolta do animal) (Takahashi et al 2009). Em climas tropicais as trocas de calor do organismo com o meio vão definir se o ambiente é estressante (altas temperaturas) ou ameno (temperaturas intermediárias).…”