Effect of Securigera Securidaca Seed on the Gene Expression of Pulmonary Hypertensive Broiler Chickens Induced by Cool Temperature and High-Altitude

Securigera securidaca (Fabaceae) or goat pea is growing wild in West Asia, Europe and Africa as an annual herb. In Persian, it is called "Gandeh Talkheh". The seeds of goat pea are applied in the traditional medicine to treat different dysfunctions e.g., hyperlipidemia and hypertension. This study was done at altitude of 2100 m above sea level. The effects of dietary Securigera securidaca seed (S. securidaca) were studied on hematological parameters, ascites incidence, and gene expression in the liver in chickens under cold temperature condition. Number of 200 broiler chicks (1-day-old male, Ross 308 breed) were randomly divided into 20 floor pens and reared for 42 days. Experimental groups were defined by the inclusion of 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, and 4 g/kg S. securidaca in the diets. The results of the experiment showed that broiler chickens fed a diet containing 2 to 4 g/kg S. securidaca seed had lower abdominal fat and relative liver weight as well as right ventricular ratio to total ventricles (RV/TV) compared to control, while nitric oxide and hematocrit were higher (P<0.05). The transcript of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes were influenced in the liver by feeding S. securidaca Seed. Liver NOS and GPX mRNAs were considerably increased in the groups supplemented S. securidaca seed (3 and 4 g/kg) compared to the control birds (P < 0.05). In conclusion, S. securidaca medicinal herb effectively improves pulmonary hypertensive response in broiler chickens.