Effects of Acute and Chronic Cold Stress on Antioxidant Function in Intestinal Tracts of Chickens

This study was to investigate the effects of cold stress on the contents of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of chickens. A total of 80 15-day-old male chickens were treated by cold stress with the duration of the acute cold stress being 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h, and the chronic cold stress was 5, 10, and 20 days, respectively. Cold stress temperature was (12±1)°C. The chemical colorimetric method was used to detect the changes of the T-AOC, SOD activities and MDA contents. The results showed that compared with the corresponding control group, effects of acute cold stress on the T-AOC in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of chickens significantly (P<0.05) increased firstly and then decreased. Under chronic cold stress, the T-AOC significantly (P<0.05) decreased. Under acute cold stress and chronic cold stress, the MDA contents significantly (P<0.05) increased in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of chickens. The effects of acute cold stress on the SOD activities in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of chickens significantly (P<0.05) increased firstly and then decreased. Under chronic cold stress the SOD activities significantly (P<0.05) decreased in jejunum and ileum, but significantly (P<0.05) decreased firstly and then increased in duodenum.