Histopathological and biochemical evaluations of the kidney in broiler chickens under acute heat stress conditions

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between acute heat stress and relevant histopathology and biochemical parameters of kidney function. A total of 80 healthy Arbor Acer (AA) broiler chickens were randomly divided into two groups: CT (Control Temperature; 22 +/- 1 degrees C) group and HT (High Temperature; 38 +/- 1 degrees C) group. Histopathological images revealed alteration in kidney (renal tubular lumen dilation with tubular necrosis, especially after 10h of heat stress) of broiler chickens in HT group leading to disturbance of acid base balance. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA) as serum markers of renal dysfunction were elevated significantly (p<0.05) after 5h, and especially, after 10h of heat stress (p<0.01) as compared with CT group. These results indicated that the evaluation of morphological and functional parameters in kidney is required, in order to monitor broiler chickens exposed to heat stress.