Sample Storage and Fasting Times Affect Serum and Plasma Concentrations of Metabolites in Fasted and Non-Fasted Broiler Chickens

Sample storage and fasting times leads to some changes of blood metabolites in broilers. Therefore, a study was conducted with the aim to assess the influence of storage and fasting times in serum and plasma fractions on glucose, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) concentrations in broilers. A total of 70 male broiler chickens fasted at 7 times (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours) to collect blood fractions (serum and plasma) stored at -20°C for 0, 30, and 60 days. Glucose and GGT were affected by fasting times×blood fraction. Serum glucose concentration decreased linearly (≅ 2.48 mg dL-1), whereas total cholesterol and plasma GGT increased linearly (≅ 0.92 mg dL-1 and ≅ 0.19 IU L-1, respectively) with fasting time. There was a quadratic effect on plasma glucose and serum GGT (maximum at 3.95 hours and minimum at 5.22 hours of fasting, respectively), and triacylglycerol (minimum at 8.75 hours of fasting) and ALT concentrations (maximum at 8.45 hours of fasting). Glucose, total cholesterol, AST, ALT, GGT concentrations were higher in serum, while triacylglycerol was higher in plasma. Glucose concentration had the lowest values at 30 days, while ALT was higher on day 0. However, GGT concentrations were lower on days 0 and 30. Samples of plasma for glucose, ALT, and GGT stored at -20°C for long periods should be avoided. In addition, serum samples and 6 hours fasting are recommended for the assessment of blood biochemical metabolites in broilers.

Sample Storage and Fasting Times Affect Serum and Plasma Concentrations of Metabolites in Fasted and Non-Fasted Broiler Chickens Keywords:

Biochemical metabolites , Blood fractions , Liver enzyme of broilers , Poultry research.