This experiment was conducted to study the effects of nucleotide supplementation on induced ascites and its effects on growth performance, blood metabolites, and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) mRNA in Ross 308 broiler chickens. A total of 672 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated to eight treatments with two levels of common salt in drinking water (0 and 2 g/lit) and four dietary supplemental levels of nucleotides (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg diet). Each treatment was included 7 replicates of 12 birds each. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial arrangement. In this study, 0.2% salt in drinking water induced ascites, decreased body weight (BW), and increased mortality, right ventricle (RV) weight as well as RV to total ventricles ratio (P 0.05). Results showed that nucleotide levels of 0.05 and 0.1% significantly decreased RV weight and blood triiodothyronine (T3) concentration on 42 d. Interaction effects between salt and nucleotide supplement revealed that 0.1% nucleotide level in the salt group significantly reduced blood T3 concentration in comparison with non-nucleotide supplemented and normal water group. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics, and the expression of HIF-1α mRNA in heart of broilers were not significantly affected by excess salt, nucleotide supplement, and their interaction. It was concluded that 0.5 g/kg dietary nucleotide supplementation decreased the ascites parameter of the RV/BW ratio in broiler chickens.
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