Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018;55(1):60-64.
doi: 10.2141/jpsa.0170044. Epub 2017 Sep 25.

Growth Performance and Right Ventricular Hypertrophy Responses of Broiler Chickens to Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation under Hypobaric Hypoxia

Behnam Ahmadipour  1 , Shahabodin Zafari Naeini  1 , Mohammadreza Sharifi  1 , Fariborz Khajali  1
Affiliations

Growth Performance and Right Ventricular Hypertrophy Responses of Broiler Chickens to Guanidinoacetic Acid Supplementation under Hypobaric Hypoxia

Behnam Ahmadipour et al. J Poult Sci. 2018.

Abstract

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) has been shown to spare arginine (ARG) requirements in chickens. ARG plays a critical role in enhancing growth and preventing right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) in broiler chickens subjected to hypobaric hypoxia. However, ARG is not available as a feed grade supplement in the market. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of commercially available GAA supplement as an alternative on growth performance and RVH in broilers raised at high altitude (2100 m). Five graded levels of GAA ranging from 0 (control) to 2 g/kg were provided in isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets to broilers (Ross 308) from day 1 to 42, post-hatch. Results indicated that responses to GAA were nonlinear and attained plateau values within the studied range of GAA supply. While weight gain and feed intake were unaffected by GAA supply, feed conversion ratio was improved by GAA supplementation up to 1.5 g/kg. Similar trends were observed for the proportions in the liver and heart, as well as hematocrit. GAA supplementation at 1 and 1.5 g/kg resulted in reduced abdominal fat deposition as well as a decline in right-tototal ventricular weight ratio (RV:TV, an index of RVH). A significant (P<0.05) increase in serum nitric oxide concentration was observed at 1 and 1.5 g/kg GAA supplementation. However, GAA supply led to lower serum malondialdehyde and uric acid levels than in the control. In conclusion, GAA supplementation up to 1.5 g/kg had the potential to improve growth performance and RVH response. Meanwhile, GAA supply beyond 1.5 g/kg could deteriorate these responses.

Keywords: altitude; ascites; chicken; guanidinoacetate.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Ahmadipour B, Hassanpour H, Asadi E, Khajali F, Rafiei F and Khajali F. Kelussiaodoratissima Mozzaf- A promising medicinal herb to prevent pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens reared at high altitude. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 159: 49-54. 2015. - PubMed
    1. Basoo H, Khajali F, Asadi Khoshoui E, Faraji M and Wideman RF. Re-evaluation of arginine requirements for broilers exposed to hypobaric condition during the 3-to 6-week period. Journal of Poultry Science, 49: 303-307. 2012.
    1. Behrooj N, Khajali F and Hassanpour H. Feeding reduced protein diets to broilers subjected to hypobaric hypoxia is associated with development of pulmonary hypertension syndrome. British Poultry Science, 53: 658-664. 2012. - PubMed
    1. Dilger RN, Bryant-Angeoni K, Payne RL, Lemme A and Parsons CM. Dietary guanidino acetic acid is an efficacious replacement for arginine for young chicks. Poultry Science, 92: 171-177. 2013. - PubMed
    1. Fossati PP, Rincipe L and Berti G. Use of 3, 5-dichloro-2-hydroxybenzene sulfonic acid/4-aminophenazone chro-mogenic system in the direct enzymic assay of uric acid in serum and urine. Clinical Chemistry, 26: 227-231. 1980. - PubMed