EFFECT OF ACQUISITION OF IMPROVED THERMOTOLERANCE ON THE INDUCTION OFHEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS IN BROILER-CHICKENS

The role of heat shock proteins (HSP) in the protection of cells from heat stress is well established. However, very Little is known about t heir contribution to thermotolerance in the complexity of a whole home otherm animal. Here we report on the analysis of protein synthesis in lung and heart muscle tissues of broiler chickens following exposure t o high ambient temperature. Half of the flock was treated by an early age exposure to heat (conditioning), to improve thermotolerance. In co ntrast to what has been expected, lower levels of HSP induction was ob served in the treated chickens. We suggest that 1) the induction of HS P in the heart and lung tissues of the whole animal correlates with th e body temperature and 2) HSP response does not represent a part of th e long-term mechanism that is evoked by the early age conditioning.