Effects of Glutamine Supplementation on Growth Performance and Antioxidant Status in Broilers with Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome (PHS)

The present study examined the antioxidant defense of glutamine on plasma and liver antioxidant status in broilers under PHS with respect to changes in the levels of lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS) and the activities of anti peroxidative enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione dependent antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPX)] in the plasma and liver tissue. Sampling of blood and liver tissue were determined at d 21 and 42. At the end of the experiment, 2 chicks from each replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered. The heart was removed; the right ventricle was dissected away from the left ventricle and septum, then the ratio of right ventricle weight to total ventricle weight (RV/TV) calculated too. Average BW gain and average feed intake were measured weekly from d 15 and average feed conversion ratio was calculated and reported weekly. The results showed that glutamine supplementation improve average feed conversion ratio (P<0.05). Moreover, in bird with PHS, supplementation of glutamine significantly (P<0.05) reduced the levels of MDA in plasma and liver tissue. A parallel increase glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activates in plasma and liver tissue. But SOD activity in plasma and liver tissue did not affected by glutamine supplementation. Also, glutamine significantly (P<0.05) reduced right ventricle weight to total ventricle weight (RV/TV) and mortality.