Myofibril architecture in prediction and evaluation of broiler wooden breast: Histopathological and immunohistochemical study

• Published in: Iraqi journal of veterinary sciences Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 663 - 670
• Main Authors: Hohammad, Hashim H., Al-Taee, Shahbaa Kh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Arabic; English
• Published: University of Mosul, College of Veterinary Medicine 01-07-2024
• Subjects: actin; expression; immunohistochemistry; muscle; woody
• DOI: 10.33899/ijvs.2024.148083.3547
• EISSN: 2071-1255
• ISSN: 2071-1255; 1607-3894

Wooden breast is one of the myopathies that affected broilers and caused economic loss, but the causes are still unknown. This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of a high percentage of soybean oil in inducing this abnormality. Thirty chicks were fed into basal ratio as a control group and basal ratio with soybean oil 5.20% as the treatment group for 35 days. The histopathological examination of the Pectoralis muscle of broiler rearing for 12 days was represented by abnormal myofiber architecture, edema, and increased endomysium formation at percentages <10% and occupied scor1. By 13-21 days, adipose tissue deposition with fibrosis occupies between >40% and <80%, with phlebitis and atrophied myofibers at 35 days. Fiji-ImageJ analysis was utilized as a unique quantification method to estimate myofiber diameter. The treatment group showed a significant decrease in myofiber diameter 0.187 and 0.705 at 21 and 35 days compared to the control group 0.706 and 2.276, respectively. The score/grading system investigated the viewpoints in histochemical analysis, so the fibrosis grade was moderate and severe. In contrast, the grade of carbohydrates was mild and weak in an insight myofiber sections obtained at 12 and 35 days of treatment. Immunohistochemistry staining of smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression was elevated from moderate to mild with progressive lesions in the treatment group. It has been found that adding a large proportion of soybean oil leads to a wood myofiber, and the use of semi-quantitative analysis and artificial intelligence aids in diagnosing myopathies.