Anatomical parameters of cardiopulmonary system, venous blood pCO2and pO2tensions and the development of ascites syndrome in two genetic line chickens that are differing in their growth rate

Document Type : Full paper (Original article)

Authors

Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The present study was designed to examine the anatomical parameters of the cardiopulmonary system,
the function of venous blood gas parameters and the development of ascites incidence in two genetic line
chickens. Three hundred forty day-old chickens from two pure broiler breeder lines, which were different in
their growth rate and susceptibility to ascites syndrome were obtained. The relative heart and lung weights,
the volumes of the heart, lung and thorax cavity, the incidence of ascites, and the venous blood gas
parameters in these two genetic line chickens were followed. In the present study, the incidence of ascites
and right ventricular hypertrophy was markedly higher in the fast-growing broiler chickens compared to the
slow-growing chickens, as two genetic line chickens exhibited significant differences in their growth
performance traits. The volumes of the thorax cavity, before and after removing the heart and lung tissues,
were lower in fast-growing broiler chickens compared to the slow-growing chickens. The relative lung
volume was significantly lower in the fast growth chickens than the slow growth chickens at the earlier age,
but it did not differ at the later age. Additionally, a rise in carbon dioxide tension and a decline in oxygen
pressure in the venous blood of rapid growth compared tothe slow growth broiler chickens were observed. It
could be concluded that there is an association between the insufficiencies of the cardiopulmonary system
with the function of the venous blood gas parameters and the development of ascites syndrome in fast
growing broiler chickens.

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