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INVESTIGATOR: Vizcarra, J.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
4900 MERIDIAN STREET
NORMAL, ALABAMA 35762

BUILDING CAPACITY IN POULTRY RESEARCH

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Poultry is a common domestic species that plays an important role in agriculture by generating over 35 billion dollars per year. However, rapid growth rate in broilers is known to be associated with pulmonary hypertension syndrome (ascites). Ascites causes substantial economic losses due to mortality and condemnation in poultry. Most economical feasible treatments used to reverse ascites are in direct conflict with normal management practices (i.e. feed restriction). Thus, there is a need to develop new methods to prevent ascites. In the absence of such methods, the developments of effective interventions strategies to address this health problem will likely remain problematic. The long-term goal in our research program is to develop and implement effective interventions that will improve the health of poultry, especially those that are susceptible to ascites. The overall objective of this particular application, which is the next step toward attainment of our long-term goal, is to determine the contribution of ghrelin in the development of ascites in broilers. Our central hypothesis is that ghrelin is a key hormone involved in feed intake, energy homeostasis, and cardiovascular function in birds. Using complementary experimental strategies that have been validated in our laboratories, we intend to down- and up-regulate the activity of ghrelin. We also propose to use non-invasive method, such as mild hypothermia, and feed restriction to modify the incidence of ascites in broilers. The expected outcome of this proposal is to improve the therapies that significantly impact animal health and the sustainability and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture.

OBJECTIVES: The long-term goal in our research program is to build capacity in poultry research, and to develop and implement effective interventions that will improve the health of poultry, especially those that are susceptible to PH. Thus, the goal is significant because it falls within the USDA/CBG Program Priority Areas of "Animal health," "Sustainable agriculture," and "Global Food security and agricultural biosecurity." The overall objective of this particular application, which is the next step toward attainment of our long-term goal, is to determine the contribution of ghrelin in the endocrine control of PH in broilers. Our central hypothesis is that ghrelin is a key hormone involved in feed intake, energy homeostasis, and cardiovascular function in birds. We also hypothesize that rapid growth in poultry is associated with changes in endogenous ghrelin concentrations that leads to PH. Our preliminary data and earlier published reports strongly suggest a link between ghrelin, feed intake, and energy homeostasis in birds. There is, therefore, a critical need to determine the underlying effect of ghrelin in the development of PH in chickens. For this study we will target broilers, a bird with known susceptibility to this significant health problem. This is a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary project (Alabama A&M University, AAMU; Auburn University, AU; and Aviagen). Therefore, this proposal will establish the link between the Industry, Farmers (Alabama is the second state with the largest numbers of broilers in the US), and University institutions for continued support and partnership after the end of the current project. Using complementary experimental strategies that have been validated in our laboratories, we intend to down- and up-regulate the activity of ghrelin, and to use non-invasive method, such as mild hypothermia, to amplify the incidence of ascites in broilers. Thus, the overall objective of this project is to determine the role of ghrelin in the endocrine control of ascites in broilers.