Embryonic Thermal Manipulation Affects Neurodevelopment and Induces Heat Tolerance in Layers.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

The poultry industry faces severe heat-stress challenges that threaten both economic sustainability and animal welfare. Embryonic thermal manipulation (ETM) has been proposed as a thermal programming strategy to enhance chick heat tolerance, yet its efficacy in layers requires verification, and its effects on growth performance and neurodevelopment remain unclear.

Methods

White Leghorn embryos at embryonic days 13 to 18 (ED 13-18) were exposed to 39.5 °C (ETM). Hatch traits and thermotolerance were recorded, and morphometric and histopathological analyses were performed on brain sections. Transcriptome profiling of the whole brains and hypothalami was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Representative pathway genes responsive to

SUBMITTER: Fan Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12840955 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature