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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420667
Research Project: Assessment of Quality Attributes of Poultry Products, Grain, Seed, Nuts, and Feed

Location: Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit

Title: Reduction of ribonucleotide reductase subunit RRM2 potentially impairs gut function of woody breast broilers

Author
item SHAKERI, MAJID - Orise Fellow
item ZIABTCHENKO, ELIZABETH - Hispanic Association Of Colleges & Universities (HACU)
item CHOI, JANGHAN - Orise Fellow
item Harris, Caitlin
item Buhr, Richard
item Mitchell, Trevor
item Kong, Byungwhi
item Zhuang, Hong
item Bowker, Brian

Submitted to: Animal Research and One Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/2025
Publication Date: 7/31/2025
Citation: Shakeri, M., Ziabtchenko, E., Choi, J., Harris, C.E., Buhr, R.J., Mitchell, T.R., Kong, B.C., Zhuang, H., Bowker, B.C. 2025. Reduction of ribonucleotide reductase subunit RRM2 potentially impairs gut function of woody breast broilers. Animal Research and One Health. 00:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/aro2.70032.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aro2.70032

Interpretive Summary: The woody breast myopathy (WB) negatively impacts the quality of broiler breast meat resulting in economic losses to the industry due to undesirable meat appearance and texture. The exact etiology of this myopathy is unknown. Our data demonstrated negative alterations in the gut health and mitochondria function of WB. Ribonucleotide reductase is an enzyme involved in the gut health, energy production, and mitochondria function. The results from this study suggest for the first time that this enzyme potentially plays a major role in the gut health of WB by controlling several pathways including mitochondria function and energy production.

Technical Abstract: Woody breast (WB) condition impairs the texture and appearance of chicken breast meat causing major losses for the industry each year. Recent studies showed that mineral supplementations improve WB indicating that gut health may play a role. Ribonucleotide reductase, subunit RRM2, is involved in mitochondria function, and down-regulating it increases gastrointestinal disturbances and liver toxicity. This study attempted to investigate links between RRM2 and gut health in broilers with WB. Tissues were collected from 15 severe WB and 15 normal birds. Results indicated that WB increased pH, drip loss, compression force, redness, and hemorrhages in breast meat. RRM2 expression was reduced, and several oxidative damage factors increased in the duodenum and liver of WB broilers. Expression of genes related to mitochondria function and gut barrier function in the duodenum and liver were reduced in WB broilers. WB broilers had shorter villi length and thicker crypt resulting in lowered villi/crypt ratio. Digestive enzyme activities and ATP concentrations were altered in the duodenum and liver of WB broilers. Overall, reduced RRM2 expression impaired mitochondria function leading to increased inflammation and altered gut morphology and enzyme activities suggesting RMM2 may play an essential role in gut health and WB myopathy development.