Comparison the mRNA Expression Levels of PNOC and NPY Genes in Broilers fed Purslane Seed Extract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the PNOC and NPY mRNA expression levels in broiler chicks fed with purslane seed extracts. Two-hundred-fifty day-old broiler chicks were used and randomly allotted equally into five experimental groups with five replications comprised 10 chicks in each replication.The effect of various levels of purslane seed extract investigated on mRNA expression levels of PNOC and NPY genes during a day period, Dietary treatments included a control basal diet (without adding purslane seed), basal diet + 50, 100,150 and 200 mg/kg purslane seed. Livak method was used to determine mRNA expression levels of PNOC and NPY genes. At 42 days of age two bird of each replicate were randomly selected, slaughtered and their brain stem tissue were used to assess the effect of treatments on PNOC and NPY mRNA expression levels. The mRNA expression of NPY in treatments containing purslane seed extract was not significant in compare with control treatment, although it was higher in treatment containing 200 mg/kg purslane seed. The mRNA expression of PNOC in treatment containing 200 mg/kg purslane seed extract was significantly higher than the control treatment (p>0.01); meanwhile the other treatments had no effect in compare with control. The results showed that use of 200 mg/kg levels portulaca oleracea extract led to the significant increase of PNOC mRNA expression and non significant increase of NPY mRNA expression. Therefore, portulaca oleracea extract could be effective on the mRNA level expression of accelerated neuropeptides of appetite in broiler chicks.