Telomere Length and Regulatory Genes as Novel Stress Biomarkers and Their Diversities in Broiler Chickens (<i>Gallus gallus domesticus</i>) Subjected to Corticosterone Feeding

Abstract

This study was designed to characterize telomere length and its regulatory genes and to evaluate their potential as well-being biomarkers. Chickens were fed a diet containing corticosterone (CORT) for 4 weeks and performances, organ weight, plasma CORT levels, telomere lengths and regulatory genes were measured and recorded. Body weights of CORT-fed chickens were significantly suppressed (p p p p TRF1, chTERT, TELO2 and HSF1 were significantly (p TERRA were downregulated in the muscles at weeks 2 and 4. Therefore, telomere lengths and their regulators are associated and diverse, so they can be used as novel biomarkers of stress in broiler chickens fed with CORT.

Keywords

• broiler
• corticosterone
• performance
• telomeres
• telomere regulators
• stress biomarkers