Heat shock protein B1 and NADPH oxidase 4 expression is associated with vital signs and antioxidant parameters in two different varieties of turkey under thermal stress

Kulvir Pal Singh; B V Sunil Kumar; Prem Prakash Dubey; Nitin Mehta

doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2025.105769

Heat shock protein B1 and NADPH oxidase 4 expression is associated with vital signs and antioxidant parameters in two different varieties of turkey under thermal stress

Res Vet Sci. 2025 Jun 15:193:105769. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2025.105769. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Kulvir Pal Singh¹, B V Sunil Kumar², Prem Prakash Dubey³, Nitin Mehta⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology, College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India.
² Department of Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology, College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India. Electronic address: sunilkumar@gadvasu.in.
³ Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India.
⁴ Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India.

PMID: 40532269
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2025.105769

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the performances of two different turkey varieties (CARI Virat and Bronze turkey) under heat stress using some molecular and biochemical parameters. The birds were reared during summer (increased THI; heat stress group) and winter seasons (optimum THI; control), blood samples were collected at their marketable age (18 weeks). Real-time PCR analysis showed that HSPB1 and NOX4 mRNA expression levels were significantly upregulated in heat-stressed birds across both varieties and genders. There was a direct relationship between HSPB1 mRNA expression and cloacal temperature, as well as a negative correlation between HSPB1 mRNA expression and average fortnightly body weight gain in heat stressed birds of both varieties. The expression of NOX4 mRNA was negatively correlated with the average fortnightly body weight gain in the control group of turkey birds. Biochemical assays revealed a significant rise in serum catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities (p ≤ 0.05), along with increased lipid peroxidation (MDA), and a decrease in reduced glutathione levels (p ≤ 0.05), confirming oxidative stress in heat-stressed birds. White female turkeys exhibited higher antioxidant enzyme activity and better weight gain than black turkeys, suggesting greater heat tolerance. Additionally, heat stress negatively affected meat pH, water holding capacity, texture, and juiciness, though overall quality remained acceptable. These findings suggest that white female turkeys are more heat-tolerant and better suited for production in high-temperature environments, offering valuable insights for genetic selection and management strategies in poultry farming.

Keywords: Antioxidants; HSPB1; Heat stress; Meat parameters; NOX4; Reactive oxygen species; Turkey birds.