This experiment was to evaluate the effect of dietary resveratrol (Res) supplementation (0, 400 mg/kg) on growth performance, meat quality, and muscle anaerobic glycolysis and antioxidant capacity of transported broilers. A total of 360 21-day-old male Cobb broilers was randomly allotted to 2 dietary treatments (Res-free group and Res group) with 12 replicates of 15 birds each. On the morning of d 42, after a 9-hour fast, 24 birds (2 birds of each replicate) were selected from the Res-free group and then equally placed into 2 crates, and the other 12 birds (one bird of each replicate) were selected from the Res group and then placed into the other crate. All birds in the 3 crates were transported according to the following protocols: 0-hour transport of birds in the Res-free group (control group), 3-hour transport of birds in the Res-free group (T group), and 3-hour transport of birds in the Res group (T + Res group). The results showed that Res not only improved feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) but also tended to improve birds’ final body weight (P < 0.10). In the Res-free group, a 3-hour transport increased serum corticosterone concentration, muscle malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate contents, and muscle lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, while it decreased muscle glycogen content, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities (P < 0.05), which induced decreased breast meat quality (lower pH24h and higher drip loss and L*24 h, P < 0.05). Nevertheless, compared with the T group, Res increased muscle glycogen content and T-SOD and GSH-PX activities (P < 0.05 or P < 0.10), while it decreased muscle MDA content and LDH activity (P < 0.05), which is beneficial to the meat quality maintenance of transported broilers (lower drip loss, L*24 h, and higher pH24h, P < 0.05 or P < 0.10). This study provides the first evidence that dietary resveratrol supplementation prevents transport-stress-impaired meat quality of broilers, possibly through decreasing the muscle anaerobic glycolysis metabolism and improving the muscle antioxidant capacity.
The influence of broodiness on egg production was evaluated, and correlations between the age of the first broody cycle (AFB), duration of first broody cycle, and interval between the end of the first broody cycle and the re-laying of eggs were calculated in Chinese Qingyuan (Q line) chicken. In addition, age at first egg and individual egg production were recorded. From a single hatch, hens were randomly divided into 2 groups, group A (n=576) and group B (n=576). Group A hens were allowed to go through the entire broody cycle, whereas group B hens were treated so as to interrupt the cycle. Mean incidence of broodiness was approximately 15%, with the average AFB at approximately 40 wk (i.e., about 20 wk after the onset of lay). Nonbroody hens produced more eggs than broody and treated hens. However, a higher laying rate during the nonbroody period partially compensated the egg loss from broodiness. Negative correlations (P<0.01) were found between AFB and duration of first broody cycle or interval between the end of the first broody cycle and the re-laying of eggs, indicating that the age of the first broody cycle can be regarded as a phenotypic marker for intensity of broodiness in hens.
In order to discover the mechanism of cold stress and identify differentially expressed genes in hypothalamus during cold stress, 4 weeks of age Huainan partridge chickens, Chinese indigenous breed, were chosen for 24 h cold stress and then hypothalamus were isolated and labeled by reverse transcription reaction for cDNA. Labeled cDNA were hybridized with cDNA microarray. After scanning and image processing, the different gene expression profiling of hypothalamus and normal control was investigated. The differentially expressed genes included 334 down-regulated genes and 543 up-regulated genes. In these differentially regulated genes, myosin heavy chain polypeptide 11 (MYH11), light chain polypeptide 9 (MYL9) and tenascin-Y (TNXB), etc., which involved in muscle activity were significantly down-regulated. Genes like cholecystokinin (CCK), neuropeptide Y (NPY), neuropeptide Y receptor 5 (NPY5R), hypocretin receptor 2 (HCRTR2) and hypocretin neuropeptide precursor (HCRT) which responsible for regulation of feeding behavior were significantly up-regulated. In addition, genes responsible for lipid synthesis, like apolipoprotein (APOB) and agouti related protein homolog (AGRP), were also up-regulated. Through pathway analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomics, during 24 h cold stress, the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction was firstly initiated in chickens for stimulation of central nervus for feed intake. Adipocytokine signaling pathway was in high activation for supplementation of body energy. Jak-STAT, Ca(2+) signaling pathway and other biological reactions were also initiated in response to cold stress. The biological pathways participated in cold stress would provide important information for clarify the mechanism of cold stress and the differentially expressed genes would give much help for screening of candidate genes in breeding of cold stress resistant lines.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), released by the parathyroid gland of animals, plays an important role in regulating the metabolism of calcium and phosphate. As a candidate gene for eggshell quality traits, the SNP was screened and its genetic effects on eggshell qualities and levels of serum calcium, phosphate, and PTH were analyzed in this study. Three hundred Houdan hens, an indigenous breed of chicken in France, were used for genotyping and data recording. Of the 3 sets of primers used to amplify the exons, exon 3 was polymorphic and 3 genotypes were identified. Sequencing revealed a nucleotide transition, A2205G (GenBank accession no. NC_006092), which was a synonymous mutation and caused a codon for lysine to change from AAA to AAG. Eggshell percentage and breaking strength for genotypes GG and AG were greater (P<0.05) than for AA, respectively; the total serum calcium for genotype GG was higher than for genotypes AA and AG by 11.8 and 10.1%, respectively; the serum phosphate for genotype GG was greater than genotype AA and AG by 16.7 and 12%, respectively. All genotypes shared the same calcium:phosphate ratio. For serum PTH, genotype GG was approximately 30% higher than genotype AA. Therefore, the SNP A2205G in PTH affected the eggshell percentage and breaking strength, and it may be associated with the variation of serum calcium and PTH level, indicating that the SNP in PTH has the potential for utilization in a MAS program for eggshell quality in chicken.
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