Plasma Lipoprotein Profile in Newly Hatched Chicks Following in Ovo Ghrelin Administration

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigation on effects of in ovo administrated exogenous ghrelin on plasma lipid profile in hatched broiler chicks. Methodology: 250 eggs were obtained from commercial broiler breeder (Ross 308 strain) farm. the eggs were divided into five experimental groups; T1 or eggs without any injection (control), T2 or eggs in ovo injected with 50ng ghrelin at embryonic day-5, T3 or eggs in ovo injected with 100ng ghrelin at embryonic day-5, T4 or eggs in ovo injected with 50ng ghrelin at embryonic day-10, and T5 or eggs in ovo injected with 100ng ghrelin at embryonic day-10. Similar in ovo experiments were done for all of injected groups on day-5 or -10. At end of incubation, blood samples from each group were collected following chick decapitation and analyzed for determination of plasma lipoprotein concentrations.  Results: Exogenous ghrelin administration at different embryonic days couldn’t have any considerable effect on low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) or high density lipoprotein (HDL)/LDL-C. Plasma HDL-C concentration had increase follow in ovo injection of 100ng ghrelin at day-5 (P<0.01) and had slight increase at day-10 (group T3 and T5).  Conclusion: As conclusion, in ovo administration of 100ng ghrelin at embryonic day-5 could elevate plasma HDL-C concentrations of newly-hatched chicks without any significant effect on LDL-C, VLDL or HDL-LDL ratio.