Heat stress affects breathing and metabolism of chicks incubated at high temperature

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology 2023-08, Vol.314, p.104093-104093, Article 104093
• Main Authors: Patrone, Luis Gustavo A., Rocha, Aline C.G., Bernardes-Ribeiro, Mariana, Lopes-da-Costa, Gleyce, Macari, Marcos, Bícego, Kênia C., Gargaglioni, Luciane H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Chemosensitivity; Chickens; Female; Heat stress; Heat-Shock Response; Hot Temperature; Hypercapnia; Hypoxia; Incubation; Male; Metabolism; Respiration; Temperature
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2023.104093

Global warming poses serious implications to animal physiology and a gradual increase in ambient temperature affects all living organisms, particularly fast-growing selected species. We recorded ventilation (V̇E), body temperature (TB), oxygen consumption (V̇O2) and respiratory equivalent (V̇E/V̇O2) of 14-day-old (14d) male and female chicks at room air conditions, hypercapnia and hypoxia at heat stress (HS, 32 °C). These chicks had previously been exposed to control (CI, 37.5 °C) and high (HI, 39 °C) temperatures during the first 5 days of incubation. Under resting conditions, acute HS increased V̇E in HI females but not in HI males. Hypercapnia combined with heat promoted a potentiation of CO2-hyperventilatory response in HI females when compared with thermoneutral condition, whereas in HI incubated males a hypoventilation under hypercapnia and heat stress was observed compared to the CI group. Hypoxia associated with heat stress increased V̇E only in HI females. Our data indicates that females are more sensitive to thermal manipulation during incubation and it seems that the thermal embryonic manipulation, at least during the first days of development, does not improve the adaptive response of chicks to heat stress. •The temperature during incubation is a critical factor that impacts embryo development and, consequently, the hatchling's performance.•Our study identified that females are more sensitive to thermal manipulation during incubation than males.•Thermal embryonic manipulation, at least during the first days of development, does not improve the response of chicks to heat stress (HS).•Embryonic exposure to higher temperatures differentially affects the HS response of male and female broiler chickens during post-hatch phase.