Effects of L-Arginine Supplementation on liver& plasma Antioxidant Status and Growth Performance in broiler with cold-induced Ascites

An experiment with 240 one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) was conducted to investigate the Effects of L-Arginine Supplementations on liver & plasma Antioxidant Status, Mortality and Performance in broiler with cold-induced Ascites.Broilers were divided in 3 treatments (with 4 replicate and 20 chicks for a replicate). All of broilers reared under a cold environmental temperature to induce Ascites. Experimental treatments were included 1: was fed a commercial corn-soybean meal based diet meeting including 1.3% L-Arginine (Control), 2: % 0.15 L-Arginine in water + Control 3: % 0.3 L-Arginine in water + Control. At d 14, temperature was reduced to amplify the incidence of Pulmonary Hypertension. Body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were measured weekly from week 3.Glutathione peroxides’ (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD (, total antioxidant status (TAS) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content of both plasma and liver were determined at days 21 and 42. At 42 days of age, 2 chicks from each replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered and then ratio of right ventricle weight to total ventricle weight calculated. Performance results showed % 0.3 L-Arginine treatments had the highest body weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio in total period. Moreover, MDA in plasma was significantly decreased and plasma GPX activity increased % 0.3 L-Arginine compared with other groups, but no significant changes were observed on SOD activity and TAS. The SOD & GPX activity and MDA levels in liver tissue were not affected by treatments (P ≥ 0.05). It is also, ratio of right ventricle weight to total ventricle and mortality due to Ascites, were significantly lower in % 0.3 L-Arginine group. In conclusion, % 0.3 L-Arginine supplementation in drinking water via antioxidant status improving, can improve the performance and mortality due to ascites in broiler chickens.