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Gamma-aminobutyric acid augments performance of heat-stressed broiler chickens through enhancement of oxidative defence mechanism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2025

Sudipto Haldar Open the ORCID record for Sudipto Haldar [Opens in a new window] ,
Sayantani Sihi Arora ,
Anusuya Debnath  and
Amrita Kumar Dhara
Sudipto Haldar*
Affiliation:
Agrivet Research and Advisory Pvt Ltd., Kolkata, India
Sayantani Sihi Arora
Affiliation:
Agrivet Research and Advisory Pvt Ltd., Kolkata, India
Anusuya Debnath
Affiliation:
Department of Biotechnology, Brainware University, Barasat, Kolkata, India
Amrita Kumar Dhara
Affiliation:
Agrivet Research and Advisory Pvt Ltd., Kolkata, India
*
Corresponding author: Sudipto Haldar; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The effect of the supplementation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a component of the neuroendocrine cascade involved in stress alleviation, was studied in broiler chickens in a heat stress model. In a 42-day feeding trial, 300 male and 300 female broiler chickens were equally distributed in an environmentally controlled and an open house (OH) according to a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design. The diet was either devoid of GABA (0 mg/kg) or was supplemented with 60 or 120 mg/kg GABA. Zootechnical performances (1–42 days), expression of mRNA for genes coding for inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α) in the spleen (24 days), oxidative regulators (Nrf-2, superoxide dismutase) in the liver (24 days) and arterial blood gas concentrations (24 days) were assessed. Whole genome sequencing of the caecal microbiome was performed for the male birds (42 days). Supplementation of GABA improved (P < 0.01) body weight and feed conversion ratio irrespective of sex and housing conditions, expression of IL-1β and IL-8 and Nrf-2 gene. GABA decreased (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde and increased (P < 0.05) glutathione peroxidase activities in serum. GABA decreased circulatory corticosterone concertation (P < 0.05). While both housing conditions benefitted from GABA, its effects were more pronounced in OH (house effect P < 0.05). GABA supplementation modulated caecal microbiota composition by increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Alistipes and Bacteroides, particularly in the OH environment. Overall, this study concludes that 60 mg/kg GABA supplementation improves growth performance, stress resilience and microbial composition in broiler chickens, with variable effects depending on housing conditions.

Keywords

antioxidative responsebroiler chickensGABA supplementationgut microbiomeinflammatory cytokinesstress resilience
Type
Animal Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , First View , pp. 1 - 17
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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