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Published on: July 29, 2012
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The muscular dystrophic chicken is hypernatremic
N Saito1,2, H Hirayama1, K Yoshimura1
1a Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences , Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan.
British Poultry Science
|July 11, 2017
Summary
Muscular dystrophy (MD) in chickens shows altered kidney function, with higher plasma osmolality and aldosterone. While water channels (AQP2, AQP3) are unaffected, sodium channel (αENaC) expression is reduced, suggesting potential kidney sodium reabsorption issues.
Area of Science:
- Renal Physiology
- Molecular Biology
- Animal Genetics
Background:
- The E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1) gene mutation causes muscular dystrophy (MD) in chickens.
- WWP1 is expressed in various tissues, including the kidney, prompting investigation into renal function in MD chickens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate kidney function parameters in 5-week-old muscular dystrophic (MD) chickens compared to White Leghorn (WL) controls.
- To analyze plasma osmolality, electrolyte concentrations, aldosterone levels, and the expression of aquaporins (AQP2, AQP3) and sodium channels (αENaC) under normal and water-deprived conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of plasma osmolality, Na+, K+ concentrations, and aldosterone levels.
- Quantitative assessment of AQP2, AQP3, and αENaC mRNA expression in kidney tissue.
- Comparison between MD chickens and WL controls under physiological and water-deprived states.
Main Results:
- MD chickens exhibited significantly higher plasma osmolality, Na+ concentrations, and aldosterone levels than WL chickens.
- Lower αENaC mRNA expression was observed in MD chickens, while AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA levels were similar between groups.
- Plasma osmolality correlated with aldosterone and AQP2/αENaC mRNA in WL chickens, but only with AQP2 mRNA in MD chickens.
Conclusions:
- Water reabsorption and AQP2/AQP3 expression are not impaired in MD chickens.
- A WWP1 gene mutation may or may not directly cause kidney sodium reabsorption abnormalities in MD chickens, potentially involving αENaC.
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