The effects of vitamin C and E supplementation on heat shock protein 70 response of ovary and brain in heat-stressed quail

Abstract

1. The effects of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) supplementation on egg production and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) response of ovary and brain in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) exposed to high ambient temperature were evaluated. 2. The birds (n = 540; 55 d old) were randomly assigned to 18 groups consisting of 3 replicates of 10 birds each in a 2 x 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Birds were kept in wire cages in a temperature-controlled room at either 22 degrees C (thermo-neutral, TN) or 34 degrees C (heat stress, HS) for 8 h/d (09:00 to 17:00 h; until the end of the study) and fed on a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either three levels of vitamin C (0, 250 and 500 mg of L-ascorbic acid/kg of diet) or three levels of vitamin E (0, 250 and 500 mg of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg of diet). 3. Feed intake and egg production were not affected by vitamin C and E supplementation under thermo-neutral conditions. However, feed intake and egg production were increased with the vitamin C or E supplementation either singly or in combination in heat-stressed quail. When vitamin was added, feed intake and egg production of quails under TN were different from those raised under HS. However, in the absence of supplemental vitamins, feed intake and egg production at TN and HS were no different. 4. Heat exposure increased serum corticosterone levels and Hsp70 expression. Serum corticosterone level was significantly decreased by vitamin C or E supplementation in HS groups for quail. Ovary and brain Hsp70 expression linearly decreased as dietary vitamin C or vitamin E supplementation increased in heat-stressed groups. However, Hsp70 expression of ovary and brain was not affected by vitamin C or E supplementation under thermo-neutral conditions. 5. The present study showed that a combination of dietary vitamin C (500 mg) and E supplementation (500 mg) may alleviate some heat stress effects of heat shock proteins of ovary and brain and egg production of Japanese quail.

Effect of Vit E on Secretion of HSP-70 in Testes of Broilers Exposed to Heat Stress

“…Dietary manipulations are therefore among the methods used to alleviate these negative adverse effects of environmental stress. Several studies have shown that antioxidant nutrient supplementation is effective in preventing the deleterious effects of heat stress and that these types of nutrients could be included in diets to alleviate the negative effects of heat stress 2,8,9,12 . Vitamin E has been shown to be curative for reproductive tissues in several species.…”

“…The HSP superfamily includes a number of different molecular-weight-class families: HSP110, HSP90, HSP70, HSP60, HSP47, and a group of small HSP ranging from 16 to 40 kDa. They make up approximately 5-10% of the total protein content of cells under conditions of normal, healthy growth 19 and are expressed or increased in response to various biological stressors, such as heat 2,8,9 , malignant tumors 21 , inflammation 22 , viral infections and exposure to toxic chemicals 17,18 . These processes are also involved in the production of ROS, suggesting that oxidative stress is a key mechanism mediating HSP induction 23 .…”

“…E is not synthesized by poultry, and its availability is through exogenous administration only 10 . Vit E plays an important role in poultry industry because of its beneficial effect on the cell membrane integrity, immune system and reproduction performance 8,12,14,16 .…”

“…Dietary manipulations are among the methods to alleviate these negative adverse effects of heat stress. The role of dietary supplements such as vitamins [7][8][9][10] and minerals 10,11 for alleviating the effects of heat stress in poultry has been reviewed extensively.…”

Role of Heat Shock Proteins in Livestock Adaptation to Heat Stress

“…58 It has been reported that serum HSP-70 levels increased in poultry subjected to HS and also indicated that the decrease in spermatagonic cells in testis of the stressed group is due to the repression in HSP-70 levels. 59 The HSPA1A was up-regulated following HS in Sahiwal heifer. 60 A strong relationship was also established between chicken and HSP 70 genotypes during heat resistance and several studies revealed that there are some polymorphism sites that can be effectively used to identify the heat tolerant trait in chicken respectively.…”