Disturbance of mitochondrial dynamics in myocardium of broilers with pulmonary hypertension syndrome

ABSTRACT

1. The following study investigated the relationship between pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) and mitochondrial dynamics in broiler cardiomyocytes.

2. An animal model for PHS was established by injecting broiler chickens with CM-32 cellulose particles. Broiler myocardial cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions to establish an in vitro model. The ascites heart index, histomorphology, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and mitochondrial dynamic-related gene and protein expression were evaluated.

3. The myocardial fibres from PHS broilers had wider spaces and were wavy and twisted and the number of mitochondria increased. Compared with the control group, the gene and protein expression levels were decreased for Opa1, Mfn1, and Mfn2 in the myocardium of PHS broilers. The gene and protein expression was significantly increased for Drp1 and Mff.

4. This study showed that PHS in broilers may cause myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction, specifically by diminishing mitochondrial fusion and enhancing fission, causing disturbances in the mitochondrial dynamics of the heart.

KEYWORDS:

• Broilers
• heart
• mitochondrial dynamics
• pulmonary hypertension syndrome
• hypoxia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data available on request from the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province [grant number 2022A1515010570] and National Key R&D Programme of China [grant number 2016YFD0501205].