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. 2021 Sep 22;11(10):2759.
doi: 10.3390/ani11102759.

Telomere Length and Regulatory Genes as Novel Stress Biomarkers and Their Diversities in Broiler Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Subjected to Corticosterone Feeding

Kazeem Ajasa Badmus  1   2 , Zulkifli Idrus  1   2 , Goh Yong Meng  2   3 , Awis Qurni Sazili  1   2 , Kamalludin Mamat-Hamidi  1   2
Affiliations

Telomere Length and Regulatory Genes as Novel Stress Biomarkers and Their Diversities in Broiler Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) Subjected to Corticosterone Feeding

Kazeem Ajasa Badmus et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

This study was designed to characterize telomere length and its regulatory genes and to evaluate their potential as well-being biomarkers. Chickens were fed a diet containing corticosterone (CORT) for 4 weeks and performances, organ weight, plasma CORT levels, telomere lengths and regulatory genes were measured and recorded. Body weights of CORT-fed chickens were significantly suppressed (p < 0.05), and organ weights and circulating CORT plasma levels (p < 0.05) were altered. Interaction effect of CORT and duration was significant (p < 0.05) on heart and liver telomere length. CORT significantly (p < 0.05) shortened the telomere length of the whole blood, muscle, liver and heart. The TRF1, chTERT, TELO2 and HSF1 were significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated in the liver and heart at week 4 although these genes and TERRA were downregulated in the muscles at weeks 2 and 4. Therefore, telomere lengths and their regulators are associated and diverse, so they can be used as novel biomarkers of stress in broiler chickens fed with CORT.

Keywords: broiler; corticosterone; performance; stress biomarkers; telomere regulators; telomeres.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Expression profile of telomeric repeat transcription factor 1 (TRF1) in the muscle, liver, and heart at week 4 and 6 of corticosterone-fed chickens compared to the control (in fold change). CORT wk4 = 4 weeks of age (2 weeks of CORT administration); CORT wk6 = 6 weeks of age (4 weeks of CORT administration); n = 20. Probability, * = p < 0.05; ** = p < 0.01.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Expression profile of chicken telomerase (chTERT) in the muscle, liver, and heart at week 4 and 6 of age in CORT-fed chickens compared to the control. CORT wk4 = 4 weeks of age (2 weeks of CORT administration); CORT wk6 = 6 weeks of age (4 weeks of CORT administration); n = 20. Probability, * = p < 0.05; ** = p < 0.01; *** = p < 0.001.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Expression profile of telomere maintenance gene 2 (TELO2) in the muscle, liver, and heart at week 4 and 6 of corticosterone-fed chickens compared to the control (in fold change). CORT wk4 = 4 weeks of age (2 weeks of CORT administration); CORT wk6 = 6 weeks of age (4 weeks of CORT administration); n = 20. Probability, * = p < 0.05; ** = p < 0.01; *** = p < 0.001.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Expression profile of telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) in the muscle, liver, and heart at week 4 and 6 of corticosterone-fed chickens compared to the control (fold change). CORT wk4 = 4 weeks of age (2 weeks of CORT administration); CORT wk6 = 6 weeks of age (4 weeks of CORT administration); n = 20. Probability, ** = p < 0.01; *** = p < 0.001.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Expression profile of heat shock transcriptional factor 1 (HSF1) in the muscle, liver, and heart at week 4 and 6 of corticosterone-fed chickens compared to the control (fold change). CORT wk4 = 4 weeks of age (2 weeks of CORT administration); CORT wk6 = 6 weeks of age (4 weeks of CORT administration); n = 20. Probability, * = p < 0.05; ** = p < 0.01; *** = p < 0.001.
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