پردیس کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی دانشگاه تهران Iranian Journal of animal Science 2008-4773 55 2 2024 06 21 Expression of cytokine genes in spleen tissue of broiler chickens fed with different levels of oak acorn Expression of cytokine genes in spleen tissue of broiler chickens fed with different levels of oak acorn 211 223 93052 10.22059/ijas.2023.348444.653906 FA Mustafa Muhaghegh Dolatabady Department, Faculty of Agriculture Science, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran Ali Zareii Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran Meisam Asefi Semiromi Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Yasouj, Yasouj, Iran. Journal Article 2022 09 12 Replacing corn with oak fruit in the poultry diet can lead to a decrease in dependence and the outflow of currency from the country, but oak fruit has a large amount of anti-nutritional compounds (tannins), which can be a limiting factor in its consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effects of different amounts of oak fruit in the diet on the performance and immune system of poultry in order to determine the appropriate levels of oak for use in poultry rations. This study aimed to investigate the expression of cytokine genes in the spleen tissue of broiler chicken fed with a diet containing oak acorn. For this purpose, three rations containing 0, 15, and 20% oak acorn were used to feed broilers for a period of 42 days. At the ages of 21 and 42 days, the spleen tissue was separated from 18 slaughtered broiler chickens (6 from each treatment), and the total RNA was extracted. The expression of cytokine genes including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ were investigated in all three treatments. Beta-actin gene was also included in the experiment as a reference gene. The REST, 2009, V2.0.13 software was used for the analysis of gene expression data. According to the results, the expression of the IFN-γ gene showed a significant increase in the spleen tissue of broiler chickens fed with 15% oak acorn with respect to the control group at both 21 and 42 days of age (P<0.05). In the 20% oak acorn group, although the IFN-γ gene expression was higher than the control treatment at both ages, this difference was not significant. At the age of 21 days, the mRNA levels of the IL-4 gene also showed a significant increase in the diet containing 15% oak acorn compared to the control group (p<0.01). On the other hand, at the age of 42 days, the expression levels of interleukin 2 and 4 genes showed a significant decrease in the treatment of 15% oak acorn compared to the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 genes showed no significant difference in treatments containing oak acorn at both the ages of 21 and 42 days compared to the control group. In general, replacing corn with oak acorn in the diet of broiler chickens, based on the amount and duration of consumption, can lead to changes in the expression of immune system genes in the spleen tissue. Replacing corn with oak fruit in the poultry diet can lead to a decrease in dependence and the outflow of currency from the country, but oak fruit has a large amount of anti-nutritional compounds (tannins), which can be a limiting factor in its consumption. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effects of different amounts of oak fruit in the diet on the performance and immune system of poultry in order to determine the appropriate levels of oak for use in poultry rations. This study aimed to investigate the expression of cytokine genes in the spleen tissue of broiler chicken fed with a diet containing oak acorn. For this purpose, three rations containing 0, 15, and 20% oak acorn were used to feed broilers for a period of 42 days. At the ages of 21 and 42 days, the spleen tissue was separated from 18 slaughtered broiler chickens (6 from each treatment), and the total RNA was extracted. The expression of cytokine genes including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ were investigated in all three treatments. Beta-actin gene was also included in the experiment as a reference gene. The REST, 2009, V2.0.13 software was used for the analysis of gene expression data. According to the results, the expression of the IFN-γ gene showed a significant increase in the spleen tissue of broiler chickens fed with 15% oak acorn with respect to the control group at both 21 and 42 days of age (P<0.05). In the 20% oak acorn group, although the IFN-γ gene expression was higher than the control treatment at both ages, this difference was not significant. At the age of 21 days, the mRNA levels of the IL-4 gene also showed a significant increase in the diet containing 15% oak acorn compared to the control group (p<0.01). On the other hand, at the age of 42 days, the expression levels of interleukin 2 and 4 genes showed a significant decrease in the treatment of 15% oak acorn compared to the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 genes showed no significant difference in treatments containing oak acorn at both the ages of 21 and 42 days compared to the control group. In general, replacing corn with oak acorn in the diet of broiler chickens, based on the amount and duration of consumption, can lead to changes in the expression of immune system genes in the spleen tissue. https://ijas.ut.ac.ir/article_93052_c8a36b48e495eb4475a3adcf33d8de65.pdf