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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Increasing Pulmonary Artery Pulsatile Flow Improves Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension in Piglets
Published on: May 11, 2015
Expression of PDGF-beta receptor in broilers with pulmonary hypertension induced by cold temperature and its
Jin-Chun Li1, Jia-Qiang Pan, Guo-Qing Huang
1Institute of Nutritional and Metabolic Disorders in Domestic Animals and Fowls, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Insights
Cold exposure increases pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in broilers. This study found that cold temperatures enhance platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor (PDGF-beta receptor) expression, which is linked to pulmonary vascular remodeling in affected birds.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Physiology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) is a significant concern in broiler production.
- Environmental factors, such as cold temperature, can exacerbate PHS.
- Pulmonary vascular remodeling plays a key role in the development of PHS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor (PDGF-beta receptor) expression and pulmonary vascular remodeling in broilers exposed to cold.
- To understand the role of PDGF-beta receptor in cold-induced pulmonary hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Broilers were exposed to cold temperatures from 14 days of age.
- Measurements included right/total ventricle weight ratio (RV/TV), packed cell volume (PCV), vessel wall area to vessel total area ratio (WA/TA), mean media thickness in pulmonary arterioles (mMTPA), and PDGF-beta receptor expression.
- Pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) morbidity was recorded.
Main Results:
- Cold exposure significantly increased PHS morbidity, WA/TA, and mMTPA.
- Elevated PCV and RV/TV ratios were observed in cold-exposed broilers.
- PDGF-beta receptor expression in pulmonary arterioles was enhanced by cold and correlated with pulmonary vascular remodeling.
Conclusions:
- PDGF-beta and its receptor are implicated in the mechanisms of pulmonary vascular remodeling in broilers with pulmonary hypertension.
- Targeting the PDGF-beta receptor pathway may offer a therapeutic strategy for PHS in poultry.
Objective:
The purpose of the present study was to characterize the relationship between platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor (PDGF-beta receptor) expression and pulmonary vascular remodeling found in broilers subjected to cold temperature beginning at 14 days of age.
Method:
One hundred and sixty-one-day-old mixed-sex Avian-2000 commercial broilers were randomly divided into a normal temperature group (control) and a cold temperature group (cold). All the birds were brooded in normal temperature up to day 14, with the lighting schedule at 24 h per day. Starting at day 14, birds in the cold group were moved to a pen in the cold house and subjected to low temperature, while birds in the control group were still brooded at normal temperature. On days 14, 23, 30, 37 and 44, the right/total ventricle weight ratio (RV/TV), packed cell volume (PCV), the vessel wall area to vessel total area ratio (WA/TA), mean media thickness in pulmonary arterioles (mMTPA) and the expression of PDGF-beta receptor in pulmonary arterioles were measured, respectively. Cumulative pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) morbidity was recorded in each group.
Results:
Cool ambient temperature increased PHS morbidity of broilers. The values of WA/TA and mMTPA were also increased significantly compared with control group. PCV values in the cold temperature group were elevated from days 30 to 44, and RV/TV ratios were increased on days 37 and 44. Cold exposure enhanced PDGF-beta receptor expression in pulmonary arterioles, and the PDGF-beta receptor expression was significantly correlated with pulmonary vascular remodeling that was dedicated by increased WA/TA and mMTPA.
Conclusion:
The results indicated that PDGF-beta and its receptor were involved in the underlying mechanisms of pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertensive broilers.
