Effect of Vitamin C on pulmonary hypertension and muscularisation of pulmonary arterioles in broilers

Three hundred and eighty 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were divided into control (A) and experimental (B, C, D, and E) groups. 2. After 14 d of age the experimental groups were subjected to a cool temperature challenge by lowering the temperature 1 to 2 degrees C per day down to 12 degrees C, and maintaining this temperature until 7 weeks of age. 3. At the same time, 1.5 mg/kg 3,3,5-triiodothyronine (T3) was added to the diet of groups D and E, and 500 mg/kg ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to the diet of groups C and E. 4. The incidence of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS), body weight gain and feed intake were measured weekly. Lung and blood samples were collected weekly from 10 birds per group beginning on d 14, and the percentage of thick-walled peripheral lung vessels (% TWPV) and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined. 5. The lower ambient temperature and diets supplemented with T3 increased PHS incidence and % TWPV and decreased body weight gain. 6. There was an increase in PCV after 5 weeks of age under lower ambient temperature 3 and the PCV values 14 were also significantly increased by T3. 7. Vitamin C supplementation reduced PHS incidence and % TWPV but did not change packed cell volume, body, weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion. 8. It is concluded that vitamin C reduced PHS and the associated muscularisation of pulmonary arterioles induced by exposing broilers to cool environmental temperatures and feeding them with T3.