Mild Intermittent Cold Stimulation Affects Cardiac Substance Metabolism via the Neuroendocrine Pathway in Broilers

Area of Science:

• Animal Physiology
• Environmental Stress Response
• Metabolic Pathways

Background:

• Broilers face challenges in adapting to cold environments, impacting their physiology and metabolism.
• Understanding the neuroendocrine and cardiac responses to cold stress is crucial for improving poultry welfare and productivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of intermittent cold adaptation on broiler neuroendocrine and cardiac metabolism.
• To identify key molecular pathways involved in cold stress tolerance in broilers.

Main Methods:

• Broilers were subjected to different cold training regimens (ambient, 3°C lower, 9°C lower) and recovery periods.
• Acute cold stimulation (10°C for 12h or 24h) was applied post-training.
• Gene and protein expression analysis (CACNA1C, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, SREBP1c, FASN, ACC1, SCD, FoxO1, PEPCK, G6Pase, GLUT1, HK1, PFK, LDHB, HSP70, HSP90) in blood, hypothalamus, and cardiac tissues.

Main Results:

• Cold adaptation increased hypothalamic CACNA1C transcription and serum norepinephrine, while decreasing insulin in the C9 group.
• Key metabolic genes (PI3K, Akt, mTOR, SREBP1c, FASN, ACC1, SCD) were initially downregulated but upregulated after acute cold stimulation.
• Genes involved in glucose metabolism and stress response (FoxO1, PEPCK, G6Pase, GLUT1, HK1, PFK, LDHB, HSP70, HSP90) showed significant upregulation, particularly in the C3 group.

Conclusions:

• Intermittent cold training enhances cold stress tolerance in broilers.
• Adaptation involves significant regulation of neuroendocrine signaling and cardiac substance metabolism pathways.
• Upregulation of heat shock proteins (HSP70, HSP90) indicates improved cellular protection mechanisms.