The Effects of Vitamin E and L-Arginine Supplementation on Antioxidant Status and Biochemical Indices of Broiler Chickens with Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome

An experiment with 320, 1 day male broilers (Ross 308) was performed to evaluate the effects of Arginine (Arg) and Vitamin E (VE) supplementation on antioxidant status, some biochemical parameters and ascites mortality in broiler chickens with cold temperature induced Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome (PHS). The chickens were distributed between 16 pens of 20 each and each 4 allocated to each of experimental treatments. Treatment 1 was the birds fed a commercial corn-soybean meal based diet (control), Treatment 2; the birds fed the control diet supplemented with 400 IU VE kg(-1) of feed (VE), Treatment 3; the birds fed the control diet supplemnetd with 0.3% Arg in drinking water and Treatment 4; the birds fed the control diet supplemented with 400 IU VE and 0.3% Arg (Arg-VE). At day 14, temperature was reduced to amplify the incidence of pulmonary hypertension. Hematological and oxidants status parameters (in serum and liver) were determined at day 21 and 42 of age. Right/total Ventricular weight ratio (RV/TV) was recorded at the end of the experiment (week 6). The results of experiment showed that Arg birds at day 421 had the lower (p <= 0.05). RV/TV ratio and incites mortality yet had improved growth performance parameters. Red Blood Cell (RBC), Hematocrit (Hct) and Hemoglobin (Hgb) was significantly lower in Arg and Arg-VE birds as compared to other birds at day 42 of age. Plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly lower in Arg and Arg-VE birds as compared to other bids at day 42. Plasma Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX) activity was greater (p 0.05) in both the Arg and Arg-VE bids as compared to other groups at day 42. Plasma and liver Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity was not affected by none of the Arg or YE supplementation. In summary, level of Arg but not for VE used in this experiment, synchronic, some change effects on MDA and TAS in plasma or hematological parameters had positive effects on cardio pulmonary performance, growth performance and ascites mortality in broiler encounter with low temperature and PHS.