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Terada T, Shimoda M, Waku D, Ogawa H. Formation of the Pecking Order during Small-Scale Floor Feeding in Helmeted Guinea Fowl ( Numida meleagris). J Poult Sci 2024; 61:2024020. [PMID: 38873243 PMCID: PMC11166474 DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.2024020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Helmeted guinea fowl are social animals and only males form a hierarchy in the wild. Non-cage husbandry systems benefit the reproductive health of guinea fowl; however, there are concerns that the feeding duration of subordinate individuals is insufficient. Here, the pecking orders formed during small-scale floor feeding were investigated. There were three experimental categories: male-only (four males), female-only (four females), and mixed category (two males, two females). Each experimental category was set up three times and included different individuals. Behaviors were recorded for 130 h 52 min, 89 h 11 min, and 98 h 46 min in the male, female, and mixed categories, respectively. Male helmeted guinea fowls pecked other males, whereas females exhibited little pecking behavior. Male pecking behavior was not homogeneous within each experimental group. It has been suggested that males form a pecking order, whereas females have no hierarchy under small-scale floor-feeding conditions, as observed in the wild. In most cases, on the first day the number of pecking behaviors was low 20 min after the start of the experiment. The three subordinate individuals in the mixed category had little time to feed, whereas the other birds in the mixed category and all helmeted guinea fowl in the male- and female-only categories had longer feeding durations. We suggest that helmeted guinea fowl may be reared under small-scale floor feeding, and that the health of males should be managed. However, rearing females and males under small-scale floor feeding conditions should be avoided. This study contributes to improving the welfare of helmeted guinea fowl reared under small-scale floor feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyoshi Terada
- Faculty of
Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1737
Funako, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0034, Japan
- Graduate School of
Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1
Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Mitsuki Shimoda
- Faculty of
Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1737
Funako, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0034, Japan
| | - Daisuke Waku
- Faculty of
Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1737
Funako, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0034, Japan
- Faculty of
International Agriculture and Food Studies, Tokyo
University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka,
Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ogawa
- Faculty of
Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1737
Funako, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0034, Japan
- Yamashina
Institute for Ornithology, 115 Konoyama, Abiko,
Chiba 270-1145, Japan
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Fu Y, Hu J, Erasmus MA, Zhang H, Johnson TA, Cheng H. Cecal microbiota transplantation: unique influence of cecal microbiota from divergently selected inbred donor lines on cecal microbial profile, serotonergic activity, and aggressive behavior of recipient chickens. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:66. [PMID: 37127691 PMCID: PMC10152610 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00866-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence from human trials and rodent studies has indicated that modulation of gut microbiota affects host physiological homeostasis and behavioral characteristics. Similarly, alterations in gut microbiota could be a feasible strategy for reducing aggressive behavior and improving health in chickens. The study was conducted to determine the effects of early-life cecal microbiota transplantation (CMT) on cecal microbial composition, brain serotonergic activity, and aggressive behavior of recipient chickens. METHODS Chicken lines 63 and 72 with nonaggressive and aggressive behavior, respectively, were used as donors and a commercial strain Dekalb XL was used as recipients for CMT. Eighty-four 1-d-old male chicks were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments with 7 cages per treatment and 4 chickens per cage (n = 7): saline (control, CTRL), cecal solution of line 63 (63-CMT), and cecal solution of line 72 (72-CMT). Transplantation was conducted via oral gavage once daily from d 1 to 10, and then boosted once weekly from week 3 to 5. At weeks 5 and 16, home-cage behavior was recorded, and chickens with similar body weights were assigned to paired aggression tests between the treatments. Samples of blood, brain, and cecal content were collected from the post-tested chickens to detect CMT-induced biological and microbiota changes. RESULTS 63-CMT chickens displayed less aggressive behavior with a higher hypothalamic serotonergic activity at week 5. Correspondingly, two amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to Lachnospiraceae and one Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 ASV were positively correlated with the levels of brain tryptophan and serotonin, respectively. 72-CMT chickens had lower levels of brain norepinephrine and dopamine at week 5 with higher levels of plasma serotonin and tryptophan at week 16. ASVs belonging to Mollicutes RF39 and GCA-900066225 in 72-CMT chickens were negatively correlated with the brain 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) at week 5, and one Bacteroides ASV was negatively correlated with plasma serotonin at week 16. CONCLUSION Results indicate that CMT at an early age could regulate aggressive behavior via modulating the cecal microbial composition, together with central serotonergic and catecholaminergic systems in recipient chickens. The selected CMT could be a novel strategy for reducing aggressive behavior through regulating signaling along the microbiota-gut-brain axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuechi Fu
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jiaying Hu
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Marisa A Erasmus
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Huanmin Zhang
- Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, USDA-ARS, East Lansing, MI, 48823, USA
| | - Timothy A Johnson
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Hengwei Cheng
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
- Livestock Behavior Research Unit, USDA-ARS, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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Hu J, Johnson TA, Zhang H, Cheng HW. The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: Gut Microbiota Modulates Conspecific Aggression in Diversely Selected Laying Hens. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061081. [PMID: 35744601 PMCID: PMC9230770 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating brain function, influencing psychological and emotional stability. The correlations between conspecific aggression, gut microbiota, and physiological homeostasis were further studied in inbred laying chicken lines, 63 and 72, which were diversely selected for Marek’s disease, and they also behave differently in aggression. Ten sixty-week-old hens from each line were sampled for blood, brain, and cecal content. Neurotransmitters, cytokines, corticosterone, and heterophil/lymphocyte ratios were determined. Cecal microbiota compositions were determined by bacterial 16s rRNA sequencing, and functional predictions were performed. Our data showed that the central serotonin and tryptophan levels were higher in line 63 compared to line 72 (p < 0.05). Plasma corticosterone, heterophil/lymphocyte ratios, and central norepinephrine were lower in line 63 (p < 0.05). The level of tumor necrosis factor α tended to be higher in line 63. Faecalibacterium, Oscillibacter, Butyricicoccus, and Bacteriodes were enriched in line 63 birds, while Clostridiales vadin BB60, Alistipes, Mollicutes RF39 were dominated in line 72. From the predicted bacterial functional genes, the kynurenine pathway was upregulated in line 72. These results suggested a functional linkage of the line differences in serotonergic activity, stress response, innate immunity, and gut microbiota populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Hu
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
| | - Timothy A. Johnson
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
- Correspondence: (T.A.J.); (H.-W.C.)
| | - Huanmin Zhang
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA;
| | - Heng-Wei Cheng
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Correspondence: (T.A.J.); (H.-W.C.)
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Fu Y, Hu J, Erasmus MA, Johnson TA, Cheng HW. Effects of early-life cecal microbiota transplantation from divergently selected inbred chicken lines on growth, gut serotonin, and immune parameters in recipient chickens. Poult Sci 2022; 101:101925. [PMID: 35613492 PMCID: PMC9130533 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed that fecal microbiota transplantation exerts beneficial effects on modulating stress-related inflammation and gastrointestinal health of the host. The aim of this study was to examine if cecal microbiota transplantation (CMT) presents similar efficiency in improving the health status of egg-laying strain chickens. Chicken lines 63 and 72 divergently selected for resistance or susceptibility to Marek's disease were used as CMT donors. Eighty-four d-old male recipient chicks (a commercial DeKalb XL layer strain) were randomly assigned into 3 treatments with 7 replicates per treatment and 4 birds per replicate (n = 7): saline (control, CTRL), cecal solution of line 63 (63-CMT), and cecal solution of line 72 (72-CMT) for a 16-wk trial. Cecal transplant gavage was conducted once daily from d 1 to d 10, then boosted once weekly from wk 3 to wk 5. The results indicated that 72-CMT birds had the highest body weight and ileal villus/crypt ratio among the treatments at wk 5 (P ≤ 0.05); and higher heterophil/lymphocyte ratios than that of 63-CMT birds at wk 16 (P < 0.05). 72-CMT birds also had higher levels of plasma natural IgG and Interleukin (IL)-6 at wk 16, while 63-CMT birds had higher concentrations of ileal mucosal secretory IgA at wk 5 and plasma IL-10 at wk 16 (P < 0.05), with a tendency for lower mRNA abundance of splenic IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α at wk 16 (P = 0.08 and 0.07, respectively). In addition, 72-CMT birds tended to have the lowest serotonin concentrations (P = 0.07) with the highest serotonin turnover in the ileum at wk 5 (P < 0.05). There were no treatment effects on the levels of plasma corticosterone and testosterone at wk 16 (P > 0.05). In conclusion, early postnatal CMT from different donors led to different patterns of growth and health status through the regulation of ileal morphological structures, gut-derived serotonergic activities, peripheral cytokines, and antibody production in recipient chickens.
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Asproni P, Bienboire-Frosini C, Barthélémy H, Mechin V, Teruel E, Leclercq J, Cozzi A, Pageat P. Single fluff-spray application of mother hen uropygial secretion analogue positively influences bursa of Fabricius development and the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in ROSS 308 chicks. Poult Sci 2020; 99:6300-6306. [PMID: 33248545 PMCID: PMC7704959 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.08.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important cause of illness and mortality in chick production. Stressors such as manipulation, absence of maternal care, transport, and housing can lead to welfare issues, immunodepression, and decreased productivity. The mother hen uropygial secretion analogue (MHUSA), a synthetic analog of a maternal semiochemical secretion, has been proven to protect chicks and broilers against stress, significantly reducing the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of the MHUSA on chicks' stress when single-sprayed on their fluff at the age of 1 d. Two-hundred eighty ROSS 308 chicks were included in the study. At day 1, each chick received a spray of 200 μL of a 2% MHUSA aqueous solution (140 chicks) or the same amount of the excipient (control group, 140 chicks), and then chicks were housed in 2 separate rooms. To assess the persistence of the MHUSA after this single application, fluff was sampled from 10 chicks every day for 7 d and at day 13 and 19, weighed, placed in dichloromethane, and analyzed by gas chromatography. Blood smears and the bursa of Fabricius were collected every 3 d from 10 chicks of each group for 36 d to assess the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the bursa weight-to-BW ratio, respectively. Gas chromatography analysis showed that the MHUSA was present on chick fluff until day 5. The statistical analysis revealed that the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was lower in the MHUSA group at day 4, 7, and 9 (P < 0.0001 for day 4 and 7; P = 0.0377 for day 9). The bursa weight-to-BW ratio was significantly higher in the MHUSA group than in the control group from day 4 until day 29. These results confirm the beneficial effects of the MHUSA on chicks' adaptation to the new environment and on bursa of Fabricius development, suggesting its potential role in improving chicks' immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Asproni
- Department of Tissue Biology of Chemical Communication, IRSEA - Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France.
| | - Cécile Bienboire-Frosini
- Department of Molecular Biology of Chemical Communication, IRSEA - Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France
| | - Héloise Barthélémy
- Animal Experimentation Platform, IRSEA - Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France
| | - Violaine Mechin
- Department of Tissue Biology of Chemical Communication, IRSEA - Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France
| | - Eva Teruel
- Statistical Analysis Service, IRSEA - Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France
| | - Julien Leclercq
- Animal Experimentation Platform, IRSEA - Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France
| | - Alessandro Cozzi
- Research and Education Directory Board, IRSEA - Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France
| | - Patrick Pageat
- Research and Education Directory Board, IRSEA - Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France
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Mechanisms of aggression and production in chickens: genetic variations in the functions of serotonin, catecholamine, and corticosterone. WORLD POULTRY SCI J 2019. [DOI: 10.1017/s0043933907001432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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7
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Pellegrini S, Condat L, Caliva J, Marin R, Guzman D. Can Japanese quail male aggressions toward a female cagemate predict aggressiveness toward unknown conspecifics? Livest Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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8
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Matur E, Eraslan E, Akyazi I, Ergul Ekiz E, Eseceli H, Keten M, Metiner K, Aktaran Bala D. The effect of furnished cages on the immune response of laying hens under social stress. Poult Sci 2015; 94:2853-62. [DOI: 10.3382/ps/pev297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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9
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Dennis RL, Cheng HW. Differential serotonergic mediation of aggression in roosters bred for resistance and susceptibility to Marek’s disease. Br Poult Sci 2014; 55:13-20. [DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2013.871383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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10
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Effects of early serotonin programming on behavior and central monoamine concentrations in an avian model. Behav Brain Res 2013; 253:290-6. [PMID: 23912030 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.07.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2012] [Revised: 07/21/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) acts as a neurogenic compound in the developing brain; however serotonin altering drugs such as SSRIs are often prescribed to pregnant and lactating mothers. Early agonism of 5-HT receptors could alter the development of serotonergic circuitry, altering neurotransmission and behaviors mediated by 5-HT signaling, including memory, fear and aggression. This study was designed to investigate the effects of early serotonin agonism on later behaviors. An extremely aggressive White leghorn strain (15I5) was used in the study. The chicks were injected with 5-MT (a serotonin agonist) at 2.5mg/kg (low dose), 10mg/kg (high dose) or saline (control) on the day of hatch and a second dose 24h later (n=9/sex/trt). Chicks' fear response and memory were tested at 2 weeks of age. In the fear test, chicks were subjected to a social isolation test for 20min, time to first vocalization and numbers of vocalizations were recorded. In the memory test, chicks were placed in a running wheel and presented with an imprinted object (white box with a red light) and a similar shaped novel object (blue box with a white light), respectively. The distance traveled in the wheel toward each object was measured. At 10 weeks of age birds were tested for aggression and concentrations of catecholamines were determined from the raphe nucleus and hypothalamus by HPLC (n=12). Expression of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor genes were measured by RT-PCR. Both high and low dose chicks tended to have shorter latency to first vocalization and a greater number of vocalizations compared with control chicks. Memory test showed that chicks from all groups traveled a similar distance toward a familiar object. However, control chicks walked the least toward a novel object, low dose chicks tended to walk further, and high dose chicks walked significantly further for a novel object. In aggression tests, both high and low dose males exhibited greater frequency of aggressive behaviors compared to controls, while no difference in aggression was evident in the females. Norepinephrine concentrations were also reduced in the low dose birds in the hypothalamus and in the raphe nucleus. Serotonin concentrations tended to be lower only in the both hypothalamus and raphe nucleus of the low dose birds. 5-HT1A expression was greatest in the hypothalamus and raphe nucleus of low dose birds. The agonism of the serotonin system during neural development of birds genetically predisposed to aggression alters both the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems further increasing their aggressiveness.
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Dennis RL, Chen ZQ, Cheng HW. Serotonergic mediation of aggression in high and low aggressive chicken strains. Poult Sci 2008; 87:612-20. [PMID: 18339980 DOI: 10.3382/ps.2007-00389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-HT) regulates aggressive behavior via binding to its receptors, such as 5-HT1A and 1B, in humans and rodents. Here we investigate the heritable components of 5-HT regulation of aggressiveness in chickens, utilizing 3 distinct genetic strains. In this study, we used 2 divergently selected strains (high and low group productivity and survivability, respectively; HGPS and LGPS) and a third strain, Dekalb XL (DXL), an aggressive out-group. Hens were paired within the same strain. At 24 wk of age, the subordinate of each pair received a daily i.p. injection of NAN-190 (0.5 mg/kg, a 5-HT1A antagonist), GR-127935 (0.5 mg/kg, a 5-HT1B antagonist), or saline (control) for 5 consecutive days. Frequency of aggressive behaviors was increased in the hens of DXL and LGPS treated with 5-HT1A antagonist and in the HGPS hens treated with 5-HT1B antagonist. The 5-HT1B antagonist-treated HGPS hens and 5-HT1A antagonist-treated LGPS hens also displayed increased feather pecking, but neither antagonist had an effect on feather pecking of DXL hens. This may suggest that multiple mediating factors alter feather pecking behaviors. Among the controls, LGPS hens have higher epinephrine levels than HGPS or DXL hens, indicative of the inferior stress-coping ability of LGPS hens. Treatment with 5-HT1B antagonist reduced epinephrine in LGPS hens but not in DXL or HGPS hens, suggesting a role of 5-HT1B in stress regulation in LGPS hens. The results provide evidence for different heritable serotonergic mediation of aggressive behaviors and stress coping in chickens.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Dennis
- Livestock Behavior Research Unit, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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12
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Dennis R, Fahey A, Cheng H. Different Effects of Individual Identification Systems on Chicken Well-Being. Poult Sci 2008; 87:1052-7. [DOI: 10.3382/ps.2007-00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Dennis R, Zhang HM, Cheng HW. Effect of selection for resistance and susceptibility to viral diseases on concentrations of dopamine and immunological parameters in six-week-old chickens. Poult Sci 2007; 85:2135-40. [PMID: 17135669 DOI: 10.1093/ps/85.12.2135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
White Leghorn chickens were inbred respectively from their parent lines, which were diversely selected for resistance (line 6(3)) or susceptibility (lines 7(2) and 15I(5)) to Marek's disease and lymphoid leukosis. The differences in disease resistance may have been due to differential regulation of immune and neuroendocrine homeostasis. At 5 wk of age, chickens from the same line were randomly assigned to cages at 4 birds per cage. Blood samples were collected from the chickens at 6 wk of age (n = 10/line). Subsets of T lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+) and B cells were measured using flow cytometry. Concentrations of plasma IgG and dopamine were quantified with ELISA and HPLC assay, respectively. Line 6(3) chickens had a higher percentage of CD8+ cells but not CD4+ cells than the chickens of the lines 7(2) and 15I(5) (P < 0.01). In contrast, both lines 7(2) and 15I(5) had a greater percentage of B cells (P < 0.01). The concentrations of plasma IgG and dopamine were also regulated differently among the lines; both were in an order of 7(2) > 15I(5) > 6(3) (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). These results suggested that genetic selection for disease resistance also directly or indirectly modified the corresponding genetic components that govern the immune and neuroendocrine systems. The genetic lines of chickens may be used as animal models for investigation of the cellular mechanisms of genetic-environmental interactions on disease resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Dennis
- Livestock Behavior Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Dennis RL, Muir WM, Cheng HW. Effects of raclopride on aggression and stress in diversely selected chicken lines. Behav Brain Res 2006; 175:104-11. [PMID: 16978715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2006.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2006] [Revised: 08/04/2006] [Accepted: 08/09/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Genetic selection for chickens of high (HGPS) and low (LGPS) group productivity and survivability, resulted in two distinct genetic lines characterized by differences in cannibalism, flightiness, and immunocompetence. Additionally, birds exhibited differences in behaviour and social stress coping strategy. HGPS birds have a superior stress coping strategy compared with birds of LGPS or Dekalb XL (DXL), a commercial strain. Line differences in stress response and behaviour could be due to selection-induced differences in expression of the dopaminergic system. The dopamine (D2) receptor, an integral part of the dopaminergic system, was hypothesized to be a key contributory factor of the stress response. We tested this hypothesis by injecting either a D2 antagonist (raclopride) or saline in the dominant individual in pair-housed birds for 10 days and examining stress coping ability. Results showed that dominant birds of all strains showed a reduced frequency of aggressive pecks on subordinates following raclopride injection. In contrast, subordinates paired with raclopride-injected birds increased pecking frequency. Two days after stopping injections, LGPS and DXL birds returned to pre-injection levels of aggressive threats, while HGPS birds maintained depressed frequency of threats. Strain differences in aggressive responsiveness coincided with increased epinephrine levels in raclopride treated LGPS birds relative to control LGPS birds, but not by HGPS and DXL birds. Our findings suggest a functional linkage between the genetic basis of stress coping ability and the dopamine regulation of aggressive responsiveness. The data further indicate that the sympathetic-adreno-medullary axis is directly involved in regulating both stress coping strategy and aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Dennis
- Livestock Behaviour Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Purdue University, Animal Science Department, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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Miller MM. Why Do We Need to Conserve What We Have? A Post-Genome Sequencing Perspective on Existing Chicken Strains ,. Poult Sci 2006; 85:243-5. [PMID: 16523621 DOI: 10.1093/ps/85.2.243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent publication of the chicken genome sequence along with the extensive single nucleotide polymorphism and physical map open exciting avenues for defining gene function and for understanding the genotypic basis of phenotypic variation in the chicken. The number of genes identified on the sequence map is growing rapidly. Genetically uniform lines and crosses derived from them will allow identification of gene function and gene interactions that contribute to traits such as immunity, disease resistance, growth, production, and behavior. Selected, inbred, and congenic lines will continue to be essential in defining the genetics of many traits. Although dwindling under budgetary pressures, a number of well characterized lines and genetic strains remain. If preserved, these can be used to address questions regarding newly mapped candidate genes defining their importance in a variety of problems in basic, biomedical, and applied avian biology. If lost, years of breeding and selection will be required to replace them.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Miller
- Division of Molecular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010-3011, USA.
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