抄録
In order to test whether exogenous coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) can improve growth performance and heart mitochondrial function of broilers grown at high altitude, a study was conducted on a farm in Xining City of Qinghai Province of China at an altitude of 2,200 m with a 78% of partial pressure of atmospheric oxygen (O2) as compared to that at sea level. Three hundred, 1-d-old male, broilers (Arbor Acres) were divided into three groups and fed diets supplemented with 0 mg (control, C), 20 mg (Q1) or 40 mg (Q2) CoQ10 per kg feed. CoQ10 supplementation increased body weight (BW) of broilers at 21 d of age. BWs of Q1 (551.6 ± 9.8 g) and Q2 (509.4 ± 10.7 g) were higher than that of C (465.7 ± 10.3 g) at 21 d of age (P < 0.05). At 42 d of age, BW of Q1 (2047.5 ± 40.8 g) was higher than that of C (1895.9 ± 39.0 g; P < 0.05). Supplementation with CoQ10 decreased heart weight as a percentage of total BW (P < 0.05) and improved yield (% BW) of breast muscle (P < 0.05) as compared to C. Supplementation with CoQ10 at 40 mg/kg feed decreased drip loss of breast muscle (P < 0.05). Oxygen consumption of state III respiration and succinate-CoQ oxidoreductase (complex II) activity of heart mitochondria were increased by supplementation of CoQ10 (P < 0.05). Supplemental CoQ10 at 40 mg/kg feed increased state IV respiration rate (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in respiration control rate of heart mitochondria among the three treatment groups. Supplementation with CoQ10 at 20 mg/kg increased glutathione peroxidase activity (P < 0.05), and concomitantly decreased (P < 0.05) the content of malondialdehyde in serum of 35-d old broilers. These findings suggest that CoQ10 can be used as a growth promoter in broilers at high altitude.
