Effect of Ascorbic Acid and Alpha-Tocopherol on Expression and Quantification of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) by Western Blotting during Heat Stress in Commercial Broilers

Abstract

The present study was carried to investigate the effect of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol on expression and quantification of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) during heat stress in commercial broilers by western blotting. For this study a total number of 168 day old broiler birds were randomly divided into fourteen groups and out of these seven groups were maintained at 37±5.0°C (heat stressed) and other seven groups were maintained at 26±1.0°C (comfort); each group consist of 12 birds. G1 (comfort) and G1 (heat) group was kept as control. Whereas G2, G3, G4 groups were supplemented with 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg ascorbic acid and  G5, G6 and G7 were supplemented with 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg alpha-tocopherol respectively. On western blot expression analysis it was found that maximum HSP70 expression was observed in control i.e. G1 group and minimum HSP70 expression was observed in 200 mg ascorbic acid and 300 mg alpha-tocopherol supplemented groups. Therefore supplementation of 200 mg of ascorbic acid and 300 mg of alpha-tocopherol may be beneficial to alleviate the rigors of heat stress.