title: Effect of stress on carnosine levels in brain, breast, and thigh of broilers.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to compare carnosine levels in tissues of broilers under stress conditions with those of broilers under nonstress conditions. Blood heterophil:lymphocyte ratio and corticosterone levels were measured as indicators of the level of stress. Corticosterone levels of stressed broilers (24,358.67 pg/mL) were 10-fold higher (P = 0.002) than those of nonstressed broilers (2,275.46 pg/mL). However, no difference (P = 0.29) was found in heterophil:lymphocyte ratio of nonstressed (0.29) and stressed (0.31) birds. Carnosine content in breast of stressed birds (17.39 mg/g) was 10 times higher (P = 0.005) than that of nonstressed birds (1.85 mg/g). Carnosine content in thigh of stressed birds (21.25 mg/g) was approximately 2-fold higher (P = 0.001) than that of nonstressed birds (11.10 mg/g). Carnosine content in brain of stressed birds did not differ (P = 0.82) from that of nonstressed birds. Based on the present study, muscle carnosine recovery levels increase during short-term stress, whereas levels in the brain are not affected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Manhiani
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Northcutt
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Dawson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002336:Carnosine / Q000032:analysis*; D002645:Chickens; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002336:Carnosine; D003345:Corticosterone