Effect of chronic hypoxia during embryonic development on physiological functioning and on hatching and post-hatching parameters related to ascites syndrome in broiler chickens

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of different atmospheric pressure on the endogenous functions of broiler chickens during embryonic, hatching and growing periods related to ascites. Eggs from a commercial broiler line were incubated in two similar commercial incubators at high and low altitudes. The effect on embryonic development and physiological functions including hatching parameters, incidence of ascites and growth performance were examined. Embryos incubated at high altitude had higher plasma triiodothyronine, thyroxine, corticosteroid and lactic acid levels, and hatched earlier than those incubated at low altitude. Embryonic mortality was higher at high altitude. Chickens that had been incubated at high altitude showed less right ventricular hypertrophy and ascites mortality than those incubated at low altitude. It was concluded that different atmospheric pressure during incubation interacts with the endocrine functions of the embryo and hence affects hatching parameters, thereby influencing ascites susceptibility.

Effect of oxygen supplementation in a hatchery at high altitude and growth performance of broilers reared at low altitude

“…The O 2 supplementation at high altitude did not affect the live weight of broilers compared with the HA group except at days 7, 28 and 35. The results of the present study are in contrast with those of Hassanzadeh et al (2004), Bahadoran et al (2010) and Çelen et al (2009), who showed that high-altitude incubated chickens had significantly higher bodyweights than low-altitude incubated chickens at 42 days old. In contrast to our findings, Meshew (1949) and Wilgus & Sadler (1954) report a slightly heavier weight at 2 and 3 weeks old when O 2 was added.…”

“…However, O 2 supplementation at high altitude did not affect feed consumption and FCR. In contrast to our findings, Hassanzadeh et al (2004) and Bahadoran et al (2010) found that there were no differences between the feed intakes of the high-altitude and low-altitude incubated groups during the growing period, and FCR was found to be lower in the high-altitude incubated group than low-altitude incubated group.…”

“…In contrast to our findings, Bahadoran et al (2010) found that high-altitude incubated chickens indicated lower RV hypertrophy and greater ascites mortality than low-altitude incubated chickens during the growing period at high altitude. Similar to our findings, there was no mortality difference in low-altitude reared groups incubated at low or high altitude (Hassanzadeh et al, 2004).…”

“…Thyroid hormones are important for regulating the metabolic rate during the post-hatch period Lin et al, 2008) and are linked with ascites susceptibility in broiler chickens' later life (Hassanzadeh et al, 2004;De Smit et al, 2005). This becomes even more apparent under adverse environmental conditions, such as high altitude (Hassanzadeh et al, 1999;.…”

Effect of citric acid on electrocardiographic parameters of broiler chickens with pulmonary hypertension

“…In addition, environmental causes such as altitude, cold stress and rearing conditions such as feed, lighting, air quality and ventilation have all been implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension (Hassanzadeh et al, 2005;Baghbanzadeh and Decuypere, 2008). It has been reported that chronic hypoxia interacting with the endogenous functions of embryos during embryonic development at high altitude, as adaptation mechanisms, changed the developmental trajectories of cardiopulmonary parameters in postnatal chickens, thus lowering their susceptibility to pulmonary hypertension (Hassanzadeh et al, 2004;Hassanzadeh et al, 2008), while hypoxia could cause the growing broiler to become more susceptible to pulmonary hypertension (Baghbanzadeh and Decuypere, 2008). The incidence of pulmonary hypertension has been reported to be greatly increased at altitudes higher than 1300 metres above sea level, presumably because of low oxygen concentration (Hernandez, 1987).…”