A Novel Approach to Detect Cellular Signals of Oxidative Stress Due to Extreme Environmental Temperatures in Backyard Broiler from Arid Tracts in India

The present investigation was aimed to investigate use of novel methods to detect cellular signals of oxidative stress due to extreme environmental temperature periods (ETPs) in broilers from arid tracts in India. ETPs i.e. moderate, extreme hot and extreme cold were used to sample the birds. Broilers were maintained under natural environment in backyard poultry farms. Non invasive tools determined in the study were serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes. Moderate mean overall values were 60.00±2.11 U L-1 and 156.00±253 U L-1, respectively. The mean values of serum GGT and MAO during extreme hot ETP and extreme cold ETP were significantly (p≤0.05) higher than the respective mean moderate overall value. Maximum percent change in mean value was observed during extreme hot ETP than in extreme cold ETP. It was 214.10% increase for serum MAO. The mean overall value during extreme hot ETP was significantly (p≤0.05) higher as compared to respective extreme cold ETP mean overall value. Age effect showed a significant (p≤0.05) increase in the mean values of both the markers being highest in the broilers of 8 weeks of age. Results of present study suggested that the degree of development of oxidative stress was higher during extreme hot ETP in comparison to extreme cold ETP. The results demonstrated that higher activity levels of enzymes may contribute to better tolerance to environmental temperature by increasing the protection capacity against oxidative damage. On the basis of pattern of observations obtained in the present study it can be recommended that broilers must be supplemented with proper antioxidants to protect them from ill effects of adverse environmental temperatures and oxidative stress. Upshot of the endeavor evidently specified the use of GGT and MAO as novel non invasive approach to detect cellular signals of oxidative stress due to extreme environmental temperature periods in broilers.