Mitochondrial Dysfunction Across Multiple Organs in Broilers Exhibiting Wooden Breast Myopathy

Wooden breast (WB) in broilers has been linked to impaired mitochondrial function in the breast muscle. When mitochondrial function declines, organs receive less ATP and experience oxidative stress. Muscle development is linked to the optimal function of the gut, liver, and pancreas, which depends on adequate ATP to support nutrient absorption and metabolism. The effects of the WB myopathy on other organs and tissues within broilers are relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate factors linked to mitochondrial function in multiple organs from broilers exhibiting WB. From sixty 8-week-old broilers, ten severe WB and ten normal breast muscles were selected for tissue collection (liver, pancreas, three sections of intestine, and breast muscle). Reduced citrate synthase activity and mitochondrial complex-II activity were observed in the muscle, pancreas, liver and duodenum tissues of WB broilers compared to normal broilers. Broilers with WB had reduced glutathione content in the pancreas and all three sections of the intestine when compared to normal broilers. Whole tissue ATP content was decreased in the muscle and liver of WB broilers. Overall, these data suggest that mitochondrial function may be impaired in tissues beyond just the breast muscle in broilers that exhibit the WB myopathy.