Metabolic discovery provides insight into wooden breast syndrome

An enzyme critical for metabolism could be the cause of wooden breast syndrome in broiler chickens.

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An enzyme critical for metabolism could be the cause of wooden breast syndrome in broiler chickens, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The research revealed gene expression irregularities present at the onset of the disease, the University of Delaware research team determined. This suggests wooden breast syndrome is a metabolic disorder characterized by abnormal fat accumulation in breast muscle tissue.

Specifically, the culprit is an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase that acts as a “metabolic gatekeeper” to determine how much fat is allowed inside a given tissue. Levels of lipoprotein lipase were higher in chickens with wooden breast syndrome, resulting in animals with higher fat accumulations in the pectoral or breast muscles.

“My research uses cutting-edge technologies to understand the root causes of wooden breast and white striping in commercial broiler chickens. We track changes that occur in the chicken, particularly in the breast muscle, as early as the first week post-hatch to find what causes a chicken to develop wooden breast and white striping even before these conditions show up,” Behnam Abasht, associate professor of animal and food sciences in the University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, explained.

Using RNA sequencing and RNA in situ hybridization, the research team found genetic evidence of lipoprotein lipase being expressed in the endothelial cells of chicken. These cells line the interior surface of blood vessels, providing a barrier between blood and the surrounding tissue.

When more fat is oxidized in the breast tissue of broiler chickens, it can cause excessive release of free radical molecules that damage fats and protein present in the muscle, resulting in an immune system response, the researchers hypothesized.

A potential biomarker for identifying wooden breast disease

Gene expression signals present in young chickens were consistent with those seen in market-age broiler chickens with wooden breast disease, the researchers noted. These signals showed up before any symptoms of the disease were present.

This finding could help identify potential markers to identify broilers at risk of developing wooden breast disease.

New ways to manage, control the disease

The discovery could also help aid in the development of feed additives or supplements to help manage the disease at the production level and ultimately result in a method to reduce the number of birds developing wooden breast disease.

“These results provide a roadmap for potential short-term solutions, before breeders could eventually breed out these traits from their genetic stocks. Breeding out these traits may take decades. So, in the meantime, these conditions need to be managed at the production level,” Abasht said.

Wooden breast syndrome is a costly, widespread disease that makes the meat of broiler chickens hard and unpalatable. Birds with the disease are typically unmarketable to consumers and experts estimate the disease costs the U.S. broiler industry more than $200 million per year.

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