Effects of sodium intake through drinking water on muscle hydration and hematological parameters in broiler chickens
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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0974-4044
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) administered through drinking water on muscle moisture content and associated hematological responses in broiler chickens (Cobb 500). Five experimental groups were evaluated, including a control group and drinking-water supplementation with sodium chloride (NaCl) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) administered at different concentrations and exposure periods. Moisture content of the internal rectus femoris muscle was quantified, and hematological parameters were analyzed to evaluate systemic responses related to tissue hydration. Increased muscle moisture content was associated with alterations in leukocyte profiles, including changes in neutrophils, leukocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes, suggesting changes in circulating immune cell distribution rather than a direct suppression of immune function. Both supplementation regimens produced comparable hematological patterns, and no statistically significant differences were observed between the 2.5 g/L NaCl for 30 days and 5 g/L NaCl for 10 days treatments. Hematological variables were analyzed using an automated hematology analyzer, and statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, permutational multivariate analysis of variance, and principal component analysis, following verification of variance homogeneity and collinearity. The results demonstrate that sodium chloride intake through drinking water is associated with increased muscle moisture content accompanied by measurable hematological changes in broiler chickens. These findings suggest that broilers may serve as a useful experimental model for studying salt-induced alterations in muscle hydration and immune-related parameters under controlled production conditions.
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