Pumpkin seed oil–supplemented diets promoted the growth productivity, antioxidative capacity, and immune response in heat-stressed growing rabbits

groups showed the lowest feed conversion ration compared with other groups. Heat-stressed rabbits given a high dose of PSO (1 to 2 mL) had higher hemoglobin concentrations and lower white blood cell counts throughout the experiment than those given a control diet and subjected to heat stress. All hepatic and renal function parameters improved significantly in the rabbits fed a high dose of PSO as compared to the heat-stressed control group, while protein constituents were significantly higher in experimental groups fed 2 mL PSO compared with other groups. Heat-stressed rabbits administered graded amounts of PSO had the lowest plasma glucose, cortisol, thyroid, and corticosterone concentrations and were noticed to be equivalent to the control group fed unsupplemented diet and reared under normal conditions. The immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that rabbit groups reared under heat stress and given 2 mL PSO supplemented diets had negative caspase-3 immunoreactivity surrounding portal tract and normal structure. In conclusion, adding pumpkin seed oil up to 2 mL/kg diet for growing rabbits is indorsed to promote growth as well as antioxidant and immunological status under heat stress conditions.