title: Biochemical and molecular investigation of thermal manipulation protocols during broiler embryogenesis and subsequent thermal challenge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of different thermal manipulation (TM) protocols during embryogenesis on thermotolerance acquisition parameters during subsequent thermal challenge (TC) at posthatch day 28. A total of 1500 fertile chicken eggs were divided randomly into five treatments (300 eggs each): control was maintained at 37.8 °C and 56 % relative humidity (RH) whereas, TM1, TM2, TM3 and TM4 were subjected to 38.5, 39, 39.5 and 40 °C for 18 h and 65 % RH daily during embryonic days ED 12-18. Hatched chicks from each treatment group allocated randomly into two sub-treatment groups (thermo-neutral, naïve (TN) and thermal challenge (TC). At day 28 of age, chicks subjected to TC by adjusting room temperature to 42 °C for 6 h while naïve chicks kept under regular conditions (22 ± 1 °C and 50-60 % RH). Chick's response to TC evaluated by determination of plasma T3, T4, corticosterone, total proteins, albumin, selected enzymes and some electrolytes at the beginning (0 h) and after 1, 3 and 5 h of TC in TM and TN chicks. Furthermore, pectoral and thigh muscles mRNA expression of Atrogin-1, CK, avUCP, DIO3, DIO2 were evaluated in TC and TN sub-treatment groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TM induced a significant reduction in free T3 and elevation in total proteins and albumin in plasma with significant down-regulation of Atrogin-1 and DIO2 and significant up-regulation of DIO3 mRNA expression in muscle of TM chicks compare to control. During TC at day 28, decrease in the concentrations of plasma free T3, total proteins and albumin with increase in T4 have been detected in control and TM chicks. TC induced up-regulation of Atrogin-1 and DIO3 with down-regulation of DIO2 gene expression in muscles of all TC chicks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicated that, TM improved thermotolerance acquisition by decreasing basal metabolic rate and muscle injury during thermal stress. Basal metabolic rate decreased via reduction of plasma T3 concentration with up and down regulation of expression of DIO3 and DIO2, respectively in muscles. Muscle injury protected by stimulation of protein biosynthesis and down-regulation of Atrogin-1 expression.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. alzghoul@just.edu.jo.|Department of Basic Medical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan. alzghoul@just.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Borhan
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Al-Zghoul
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology (Biochemistry), College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. sabryelbahr@hotmail.com.|Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. sabryelbahr@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sabry M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: El-Bahr
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. ralrukib@just.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Raida K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Al-Rukibat
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. asdalab09@vet.just.edu.jo.
authors.forename: Abd Elhafeed S
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dalab
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. althnaian@kfu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Thnaian A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Althnaian
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. syalramadan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saeed Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Al-Ramadan
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000502:physiology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000378:metabolism; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013974:Thyroxine; D003345:Corticosterone