title: The association between splenocyte apoptosis and alterations of Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 mRNA expression, and oxidative stress induced by dietary nickel chloride in broilers.
abstract: Two hundred and forty avian broilers were equally divided into four groups, and raised with a corn-soybean basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 300, 600, 900 mg/kg NiCl2 for 42 days. Numbers or percentages of apoptotic splenocytes by flow cytometry (FCM) and TUNEL were higher (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in the 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg groups than those in the control group. Results measured by qRT-PCR and ELISA showed that mRNA expression and contents were significantly higher (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in Bax and Caspase-3, and were significantly lower (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in Bcl-2 of the 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg groups. Also, the SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities, and the ability to inhibit hydroxyl radical, and GSH contents were significantly decreased (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), and MDA contents were increased (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) in all groups. In conclusion, dietary NiCl2 in excess of 300 mg/kg caused apoptosis, altered Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 mRNA expression levels and contents, and induced oxidative stress in the spleen. Also, splenocyte apoptosis was closely related to the alternations of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 mRNA expression, and oxidative damage. The splenic immunity and blood filtration functions were impaired in broilers.
authors.forename: Jianying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China. cui580420@sicau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hengmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Zhicai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Junliang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Bangyuan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000662:veterinary; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C022838:nickel chloride; D009532:Nickel; D053148:Caspase 3