Effect of silver nanoparticles in ovo injection on immune system function and some blood parameters in broiler chickens under oxidative stress induced by lipopolysaccharide

Abstract

Introduction: To study the effect of in ovo injection of silver nanoparticles on immune system
function and some blood parameters in broiler chickens under oxidative stress condition.
Materials & Methods: 560 Fertile eggs allocated to 4 treatments with 4 replicates of 35 eggs
in each. Experimental treatments included: 1) positive control (injection of 1 mL of
physiological serum), 2) negative control (no injection of physiological serum), 3) injection of
20 mg nanoparticles of silver per egg and 4) injection of 40 mg nanoparticles of silver per egg.
The injection was performed on day 7 of incubation. For oxidative stress, birds received 500
micrograms of lipopolysaccharide per kilogram of body weight at three times (12, 24, and 48
h before slaughter), through intraperitoneal injection.
Results: The results showed that silver nanoparticles improved the weight of chickens during
breeding (p<0.05). Silver nanoparticles have significantly increased the weight of lymphatic
organs (p<0.05). The group receiving 40 mg of silver nanoparticles showed the highest weight
of lymphatic organs. Blood cholesterol in experimental treatments showed a significant
difference (p<0.05). Negative control treatment showed the highest level of blood cholesterol
compere to positive control and silver nanoparticles (p<0.05). TNF-α and TGF-β showed a
significant difference experimental treatments so that the group receiving 40 mg of silver
nanoparticles showed the highest level of gene expression (p<0.05).
Conclusion: From this study, it is clear that silver nanoparticles improve the immune response
of broilers by improving weight, lowering cholesterol and increasing the level of expression of
immune and growth factor genes.