The effect of Protexin and vitamin C on blood immune cells, lymphoid organ’s weight and blood antioxidant concentrations of broilers under heat stress

Abstract

Introduction: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Protexin and vitamin C on
blood-immune cells, lymphoid organs’ weight, and blood antioxidant concentrations of broiler
chickens under heat stress (HS).
Materials & Methods: A total of 400 one-day-old broiler chickens were used in a completely
randomized design. Experimental groups included a negative control (without additive, no HS),
positive control (without additive, HS), vitamin C, Protexin, and the combination of Protexin
and vitamin C groups. Birds were exposed to chronic HS (35±1˚C, humidity: 65-70%) for 7
hours daily from days 14 to 35. Eight birds from each treatment were slaughtered on days 14
and 28 and the relative weight of lymphoid organs including the spleen, Bursa of Fabricius,
and thymus were calculated. The number of immune cells was assessed weekly. The blood
antioxidants concentration was evaluated weekly.
Results: According to the results, VitC+Protexin group showed the highest Bursa spleen and
thymus weight during HS (P≤0.05). Also, protexin group showed a higher thymus and spleen
weight during HS than the positive control (P≤0.05). HS reduced the ratio of heterophils to
lymphocytes (P≤0.05). However, the addition of vitamin C and Proteoxin reduced the count of
heterophils compared to the positive control during HS. The results showed that vitamin C
significantly increased the concentration of superoxide dismutase and catalase and decreased
the concentration of glutathione peroxidase in the broiler's blood during HS (P≤0.05). According
to the results of this study, the VitC+Protexin showed a better performance than other groups.
the concentration of glutathione peroxidase in the broilers blood during HS (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: According to the obtained results, VitC+Protexin treatment showed the best
performance compared to other treatments.