ARS | Publication request: STRESS INDUCED DIFFERENT CHANGES OF IGG CONCENTRATIONS AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN GENETICALLY SELECTED CHICKEN LINES

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 28, 2001
Publication Date: July 24, 2001
Citation: CHEN, Y., SINGLETON, P.B., MUIR, M.W., CHENG, H. STRESS INDUCED DIFFERENT CHANGES OF IGG CONCENTRATIONS AND HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN GENETICALLY SELECTED CHICKEN LINES. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. 2001. V. 80(SUPPL.1): ABSTRACT P. 280.

Technical Abstract: Two genetic lines of White Leghorn hens were selected for high (HGPS) and low (LGPS) group productivity and survivability resulting from cannibalism and flightiness. The aim of this study was to examine whether the selection alters the hens' immunity and hematology in response to social stress. At 17 wk of age, hens were randomly assigned into single- and 2- hen cages. The 2-hen cages contained one from the HGPS or LGPS and one from a commercial Dekalb XL line that was used as standardized genetic competitor. At 24 wk of age, blood samples were collected from 70 hens (10 hens from 3 line X 2 experiments, including 10 extra testers). In single- hen cages, compared to HGPS hens, LGPS hens had a significantly higher heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio (P<0.01). In addition, LGPS hens had greater numbers of eosinophils (P<0.01). In 2-hen cages, when compared with these same lines in the single-hen status, LGPS hens exhibited a heterophilia, and the ratio of H/L was significantly increased (P<0.01). In addition, although both HGPS and LGPS hens had an eosinophilia in 2-hen cages, a more intense increase was found in LGPS hens (P<0.001). In contrast, HGPS hens had a greater increase in the concentrations of IgG in 2-hen cages vs. single-hen cages (P<0.01). The data indicate that genetic selection results in differential regulation of immunity and hematology in response to stress between the HGPS and LGPS lines. Upregulation of IgG and stability of H/L ratio in the HGPS hens could be associated with their better adaptation to stressors reported previously.