Effect of In Ovo Injection of L-Arginine in Different Chicken Embryonic Development Stages on Post-Hatchability, Immune Response, and Myo-D and Myogenin Proteins

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of in ovo injection with different ratios of L-arginine (L-Arg) into Ross broiler eggs at three different embryonic developmental stages (eighth day (d), 14th day, and 18th day) on the survival, hatchability, and body weight (BW) of one-day-old hatched chicks. Additionally, we have analyzed the levels of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), the protein expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), and we have also determined micronuclei (MN) and nuclear abnormality (NA). In addition, the genotoxic effect was observed in peripheral blood cells such as the presence of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in the experimental groups. The results showed that survival and hatching rates as well as body weight were increased on the 14th day of incubation compared to the eighth and 18th day of incubation at lower concentrations of L-Arg. Moreover, the levels of SGOT and SGPT were also significantly (p < 0.05) increased on the 14th day of incubation at the same concentration (100 μg/μL/egg) of injection. In addition, immunoglobulin (IgM) levels were increased on the 14th day of incubation compared to other days. The protein expressions of HSP-47, HSP-60, and HSP-70 in the liver were significantly down-regulated, whereas the expression of myogenin and myoblast determination protein (MyoD) were significantly up-regulated on the 14th day after incubation when treated with all different doses such as 100 μg, 1000 μg, and 2500 μg/μL/egg, namely 3T1, 3T2, and 3T3, respectively. However, the treatment with low doses of L-Arg down-regulated the expression levels of those proteins on the 14th day of incubation. Histopathology of the liver by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining showed that the majority of liver damage, specifically intracytoplasmic vacuoles, were observed in the 3T1, 3T2, and 3T3 groups. The minimum dose of 100 μg/mL/egg on the 14th day of incubation significantly prevented intracytoplasmic vacuole damages. These results demonstrate that in ovo administration of L-Arg at (100 μg/μL/egg) may be an effective method to increase chick BW, hatch rate, muscle growth-related proteins, and promote the immune response through increasing IgM on the 14th day of the incubation period.

Effects of in ovo Supplementation with Nano-nutrition (L-Arginine Conjugated with Ag NPs) on Muscle Growth, Immune Response and Heat Shock Proteins at Different Chicken Embryonic Development Stages

“…Thus, increasing the concentration of Ag NPs could increase levels of SGOT and SGPT in the blood which can lead to liver function damage. In fact, free radicals from Ag NPs can attack hepatocytes and release stored SGOT and SGPT to re-enter the blood serum [37]. Injection of Ag NPs into chicken embryo did not result in any negative changes in SGOT or SGPT levels, in agreement with previous results from experiments carried out in ovo [38].…”

Effects of In Ovo Supplementation with Nanonutrition (L-Arginine Conjugated with Ag NPs) on Muscle Growth, Immune Response and Heat Shock Proteins at Different Chicken Embryonic Development Stages

“…In fact, free radicals from Ag NPs can attack hepatocytes and release stored SGOT and SGPT to re-enter the blood serum [27]. Injection of Ag NPs into chicken embryo did not result in any negative changes in SGOT or SGPT levels, in agreement with previous results from experiments carried out in ovo [8]. Some studies have reported that the size, superficial coating effect, concentration of particles, surface charge, Zeta potential, composition and crystal form of the Ag NPs influence toxicity in embryos [28].…”

“…L-Arginine (L-Arg) is classified as an essential amino acid and it has been reported that in ovo administration of L-Arg in the embryonic phase could increase the growth rate and muscle mass for the reason that L-Arg can stimulate the release of growth hormone [6,7]. L-Arg (100 µg/µL/egg) injection at 14th day of chicken embryo increases chick body weight, hatch rate, muscle growth-related proteins and stimulates the immune response (IgM) [8].…”

Effects of different levels of arginine and methionine in a high-lysine diet on the immune status, performance, and carcass traits of turkeys

“…The increased plasma level of cytokines observed in our study in turkeys is not indicative of immunosuppression, as postulated in our previous work ( Jankowski et al., 2020 ), but of mobilization of the immune system due to the reduced content of Arg relative to Lys in the cell. This is supported by the results of a study by Subramaniyan et al. (2019) , which demonstrated that Arg administered in ovo does not intensify but weakens inflammatory reactions, inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein in chicken serum.…”