Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4-α, Glucocorticoid Receptor and Heat Shock Protein 70 mRNA Expression during Embryonic Development in Chickens

Abstract

| Glucocorticoids (GCs) play a vital role during embryonic development. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) is a transcription factor that has been shown to be crucial for hepatocyte differentiation and development of the liver. Here we aimed to disclose the differences in embryonic expression of hepatic HNF4-α, glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) between slow and fast growing broiler chickens embryos. Fast-growing chicken and slow-growing chicken eggs were incubated and liver samples from the embryonic development at embryo 10 (E10), (E14), (E18) and day 1 post hatch (D1) were collected. Quantitative PCR used to measure hepatic mRNA expression of GR, HSP70 and HNF4-α. Hepatic mRNA expression of HNF4-α was significantly higher in fast-growing chicken embryos at all the embryonic stages investigated. However, hepatic GR mRNA expression was significantly higher in fast-growing chicken embryos only on E10. Hepatic mRNA expression of HSP70 was significantly (P<0.05) higher in fast-growing chicken embryos at E18 and D1 posthatch stages. Our data may provide the first evidence that hepatic expression of HNF4-α, GR and HSP70 differs between fast-growing and slow-growing chickens embryos, which may account to some extent for the breed disparities in embryonic development. Fedail JF (2015). Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-α, glucocorticoid receptor and heat shock protein 70 mRNA expression during embryonic development in chickens. Keywords

Effect of dietary supplementation of phytochemicals on immunity and haematology of growing broiler chickens

“…According to Kidd (2004), immunity and health of broiler chickens is negatively affected by stress. Al-Aqil et al (2013) and Ahmed et al (2015) associated the production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) at cellular level with fear in poultry. Production of free radicals and ROS may lead to deterioration of immunity, increased susceptibility to infection, and inferior production performance.…”