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Query: UNIPROT:Q86TM3 (cage)
 29,987 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Genetic selection for high or low group productivity and survivability (HGPS, LGPS) has created two phenotypically distinct chicken lines. Each line has unique characteristics in behavioral and physiological adaptability to multiple-bird cage system. The present study was designed to examine whether these differences reflect genetic variation in the control of plasma dopamine (DA) concentrations and adrenal function in response to social stress. Chickens from the HGPS and LGPS lines were randomly assigned to single- or 10-bird cages at 17 wk of age. The 10-bird cages were the same as those used in the development of the two lines. Differences in regulation of DA concentrations and adrenal function in response to different social environments were measured between the two lines when the study was conducted at 24 wk of age. In the 10-bird cages, the HGPS line had lower levels of DA (P < 0.05) and heavier adrenal glands (AG, P < 0.05) than those of the LGPS line, but concentrations of corticosterone (CORT) from the two lines were not significantly different. In the single-bird cages, DA levels in both lines were greater than in that of their siblings in the 10-bird cages, but a greater increase was found in the LGPS line (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, 405% vs. 293%). Likewise, both lines had lower concentrations of CORT (P < 0.05) in the single- vs. 10-bird cages, but the AG were less heavy in the LGPS line but not in HGPS line in the single-bird cages (P < 0.05). The results indicated that the two strains reacted differently in terms of their stress hormone levels in the two different environments. These differences could contribute to the behavioral and physiological differences existing between the two lines.
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PMID:Social stress in laying hens: differential effect of stress on plasma dopamine concentrations and adrenal function in genetically selected chickens. 1261 94

Farm management practices such as increasing group size and mixing of unfamiliar chickens may cause social disruption and affect bird well-being. To examine genetic-associated physical and physiological differences in response to social disruption, 2 strains of White Leghorn hens were used in the study [i.e., HGPS (line selected for high group production and survivability) and DXL (DeKalb XL commercial line)]. Social disruption was created when hens were 50 wk of age by increasing group size from 4 hens (control) to 8 hens (experimental) per cage and providing an unstable social environment by moving 2 hens weekly between cages within the same line (experimental hens only). At 58 wk of age, hens were feather-scored. After euthanization, BW and the right adrenal gland weight were collected (n = 10 per treatment). Adrenal gland weight was adjusted for BW, and adjusted adrenal weight was used for analysis. Plasma corticosterone was quantified using RIA. The T-lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+) were measured using flow cytometry. Results showed that average feather cover score was greater for DXL hens than HGPS hens in both the unstressed (P < 0.05) and stressed treatment (P < 0.01). There was no difference in BW in DXL and HGPS hens between the control and the social disruption treatments. However, the relative adrenal weight of HGPS hens tended to be lower than control hens after social disruption (0.05 > P < 0.10). Plasma corticosterone was significantly lower in both strains following social disruption (P < 0.01). The T-lymphocyte ratio (CD4+:CD8+) was greater in HGPS hens than DXL hens post social disruption (P < 0.05). The data indicate that the 2 strains of hens reacted differently in terms of the adrenal system and immunity in response to social disruption. Hens selected for longevity with docile behaviors and high productivity, such as HGPS hens, provide a useful tool for improving animal well-being.
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PMID:Effects of social disruption on physical parameters, corticosterone concentrations, and immune system in two genetic lines of White Leghorn layers. 1880 55