title: Effect of γ-aminobutyric acid on growth performance and immune function in chicks under beak trimming stress.
abstract: This experiment was undertaken to examine the effect of beak trimming stress on the growth performance and immune system, and to consider possible roles of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in this stress response. Results showed that body weight, feed intake and relative spleen weight were significantly increased by GABA at 80 mg/kg (P < 0.05) under beak trimming stress, whereas the relative organ weights of the bursa of fabricius and thymus were not significantly affected (P > 0.05). Adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration in serum was highest for chicks fed the GABA-deficient water and was significantly decreased by the supplement of GABA at days 1, 3 and 5 after beak trimming (P < 0.05). The supplement of GABA significantly increased the proportions of CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes, especially at the dose of 60 mg/kg (P < 0.05). The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6 in serum were significantly decreased by GABA at 80 mg/kg (P < 0.05). All the three cytokines expressed in the spleen were significantly decreased by GABA at 80 mg/kg when birds were under beak trimming stress (P < 0.05). It is concluded that beak trimming suppressed the immune response of chicks, whereas the immune response of chicks could be improved by GABA supplementation.
authors: Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Henan Research Center of Breeding Resources for Poultry, Zhengzhou, China.
authors: Wan-ying
authors: WY
authors: Xie
authors: Xin-yan
authors: XY
authors: Hou
authors: Feng-bin
authors: FB
authors: Yan
authors: Gui-rong
authors: GR
authors: Sun
authors: Rui-li
authors: RL
authors: Han
authors: Xiang-tao
authors: XT
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001502:Beak / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone