Similar to other living animals, the cells of the birds also synthesize small proteins (heat shock protein, Hsp), which increasing levels can be induce by stress. The Hsp have a relevant function in maintaining the integrity of the cell, and we question if they are involved in the mechanism of the cellular protection of target organs affected by ascites syndrome (AS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the body temperature, and the Hsp70 levels in the heart and lungs of broilers Hubbard (sensitive to AS) and naked-neck (resistant), raised under thermo-neutral (25C) or cold (16C) environments between 10 and 45 days of raising. We used 192 male chicks, 96 from each broiler strain. No AS mortality occurred among naked-neck birds, but 4% and 41% of Hubbard broilers submitted, respectively, to thermo-neutral and cold temperatures died due to AS. The body temperatures of cold-exposed-Hubbard-birds were lowers than that of naked-necks. The Hsp70 levels of heart and the body temperature of Hubbard chicks decreased as the age increased, for naked-neck these variables were constant during their lives, including the Hsp70 level in the lung cells. Independently from age or temperature effects, the lung cells of naked-neck birds had higher Hsp70 levels than those of Hubbard chickens. Comparing to Hubbard broilers, the naked-neck birds are more competent homoeothermics, and present superior level of Hsp70 in the organs firstly affected by AS, but it did not seem the system of protection against AS, in which the naked-neck birds are resistant.
ascites syndrome; broilers; thermo-tolerance; Hsp70; strain
