Telomere Length and Regulatory Genes as Novel Stress Biomarkers and Their Diversities in Broiler Chickens (<i>Gallus gallus domesticus</i>) Subjected to Corticosterone Feeding
2021
Kazeem Ajasa Badmus | Zulkifli Idrus | Goh Yong Meng | Awis Qurni Sazili | Kamalludin Mamat-Hamidi
This study was designed to characterize telomere length and its regulatory genes and to evaluate their potential as well-being biomarkers. Chickens were fed a diet containing corticosterone (CORT) for 4 weeks and performances, organ weight, plasma CORT levels, telomere lengths and regulatory genes were measured and recorded. Body weights of CORT-fed chickens were significantly suppressed (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and organ weights and circulating CORT plasma levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05) were altered. Interaction effect of CORT and duration was significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) on heart and liver telomere length. CORT significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) shortened the telomere length of the whole blood, muscle, liver and heart. The <i>TRF1</i>, <i>chTERT, TELO2</i> and <i>HSF1</i> were significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05) upregulated in the liver and heart at week 4 although these genes and <i>TERRA</i> were downregulated in the muscles at weeks 2 and 4. Therefore, telomere lengths and their regulators are associated and diverse, so they can be used as novel biomarkers of stress in broiler chickens fed with CORT.
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