Differential expression analysis of the broiler tracheal proteins responsible for the immune response and muscle contraction induced by high concentration of ammonia using iTRAQ-coupled 2D LC-MS/MS

Ammonia has been considered the contaminant primarily responsible for respiratory disease in poultry. Even though it can cause tracheal lesions, its adverse effects on the trachea have not been sufficiently studied. The present study investigated tracheal changes in Arbor Acres broilers(Gallus gallus) induced by high concentration of ammonia using isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification(iTRAQ)-based proteome analysis. In total, 3,706 proteins within false discovery rate of 1% were identified, including 119 significantly differentially expressed proteins. Functional analysis revealed that proteins related to immune response and muscle contraction were significantly enriched. With respect to the immune response, up-regulated proteins(like FGA) were pro-inflammatory, while down-regulated proteins participated in antigen processing and antigen presenting(like MYO1G), immunoglobulin and cathelicidin production(like fowlicidin-2), and immunodeficiency(like PTPRC). Regarding muscle contraction, all differentially expressed proteins(like TPM1) were up-regulated. An over-expression of mucin, which is a common feature of airway disease, was also observed. Additionally, the transcriptional alterations of 6 selected proteins were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Overall, proteomic changes suggested the onset of airway obstruction and diminished host defense in trachea after ammonia exposure. These results may serve as a valuable reference for future interventions against ammonia toxicity.

磷酸、过磷酸钙降氨处理对肉鸡气管粘膜影响的形态学观察

本实验采用磷酸、过磷酸钙对封闭式鸡舍中的粪便和垫料进行降氨处理,用光镜和扫描电镜等手段检查9周龄肉鸡气管粘膜的变化,结果表明,高浓度的氨可使肉鸡气管粘膜纤毛散乱、缠结、萎缩和变性,单泡腺和杯状细胞数量增多和形态改变,粘膜的完整性受到损伤。用过磷酸钙降氨处理后上述变化轻微,用磷酸处理后粘膜结构无异常变化。由此说明,氨对鸡气管粘膜具有损伤作用,过磷酸钙有一定的降氨效果,用磷酸作降氨处理是一种理想的方法,值得在生产中推广应用。