Garlic Powder Supplementary Diet Prevents Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome by Reducing Apoptosis in Broiler Chickens.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) is a metabolic disorder presenting with cardiopulmonary symptoms. However, garlic powder (GP) is used to treat many diseases, such as heart and lung diseases. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of GP supplementary diet on apoptosis and right ventricle hypertrophy in broiler chickens with PHS. Methods: Ninety meat-type chickens were randomly divided into three groups: Sham, PHS and PHS+GP. The PHS was induced by triiodothyronine (T3) in broiler chickens, and GP was added to the ration after week 1 of rearing (PHS+GP). Then, lung and ventricle tissues were collected at 21 and 49 days of age. PHS was calculated at 21 and 49 days based on the ratio of the right ventricle to the total ventricles (RV/TV) weight index. Gene expression of caspase1 (CASP1) and caspase1 (CASP2) were evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in the lungs and right heart ventricles. Results: The findings showed that right ventricular hypertrophy increased at day 49 in the PHS group compared to sham (P<0.001), while garlic consumption decreased this ratio to the control level (P<0.05). Also, the expression of CASP1 and CASP2 in the lungs elevated on day 49 (P<0.001), and the GP diet prevented this increase (P<0.05). Moreover, in the right ventricle tissue, PHS affected CASP1 on days 21 and 49, although the expression of CASP2 significantly increased just at day 49 in the PHS group (P<0.001). This increase in both times was weakened by garlic consumption (P<0.05). Conclusion: Consuming garlic as a dietary supplement could prevent PHS by influencing apoptosis in the lung and heart of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]