Role of triptophan/serotonin in the regulation of physiological responses to thermal stress in broiler chicks

• Grant number: 19/14646-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2020
• End date: May 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Kênia Cardoso Bícego
• Grantee: Kênia Cardoso Bícego
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Nilva Kazue Sakomura
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/10849-7 - Role of tryptophan/serotonin in the regulation of physiological responses to thermal stress in broiler chicks, BP.TT

Abstract

The present project aims to investigate the role of brain serotonin and its precursor tryptophan in the regulation of the activity of cold (thermogenesis and peripheral vasoconstriction) and heat (peripheral vasodilatation and thermal tachypnea) thermoeffectors in broiler chicks in the first week of post-hatching life. To this end, body temperature, oxygen consumption (thermogenesis), pulmonary ventilation (thermal tachypnea to heat or hyperpnea to cold) and dry heat loss index (from skin temperature using infrared thermography) will be measured in chicks sibmitted to three different protocols: 1) inhibition and activation of Rafe (brain region where serotonergic neurons are concentrated); or 2) specific lesion of the serotonergic neurons; or 3) reduction (30%) or increase (30%) of the tryptophan content in the feed. The experiments will be performed under cold (26oC), heat (37oC) and thermoneutral (31oC) conditions. Serotonergic neurons will be lesioned using local injection of anti-SERT-SAP and confirmed with immunohistochemistry for serotonin. Inhibitions and activations of Rafe will be performed through local microinjection of GABA receptor antagonist and agonist (inhibitory neurotransmitter) and Glutamate receptor antagonist (excitatory neurotransmitter). (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PATRONE, LUIS GUSTAVO A.; ROCHA, ALINE C. G.; BERNARDES-RIBEIRO, MARIANA; LOPES-DA-COSTA, GLEYCE; MACARI, MARCOS; BICEGO, KENIA C.; GARGAGLIONI, LUCIANE H.. Heat stress affects breathing and metabolism of chicks incubated at high temperature. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, v. 314, p. 6-pg., 2023-06-20. (20/01702-2, 21/13370-7, 19/14646-6)

SILVA, CAROLINE; GARGAGLIONI, LUCIANE; BICEGO, KENIA. Role of Medulary Raphe in the Control of Thermoeffectors of Precocious Birds. FASEB JOURNAL, v. 35, p. 1-pg., 2021-05-01. (19/14646-6, 17/17278-2)

CRISTINA-SILVA, CAROLINE; GARGAGLIONI, LUCIANE H.; BICEGO, KENIA CARDOSO. A thermoregulatory role for the medullary raphe in birds. Journal of Experimental Biology, v. 224, n. 9, MAY 2021. (17/17278-2, 19/14646-6, 17/12627-9)