Effects of Vitamin E and Arginine supplementations on performance, enzyme activist and blood parameters in broiler with pulmonary hypertension syndrome (Ascites)

320 one-day male broilers (Ross 308) were divided in 4 treatments (with 4 replicate and 20 chicks for a replicate). All of broilers reared under a cold environmental temperature to induce Ascites. Experimental treatments were included 1: was fed a commercial corn-soybean meal- based diet meeting NRC (1994) including 1.2% Arg and 40 IU of Vitamin E/kg (Control), 2: Control with 400 IU of Vitamin E/kg of feed 3: Control with 0.3% Arg in water and 4: combination of both Vitamin E and Arg. At d 14, temperature was reduced to amplify the incidence of Pulmonary Hypertension. Body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were measured weekly from week 3. Hematological, biochemical and pathological tests were measured at day 21 and 42; total red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, activity of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase. At 42 days of age, 2 chicks from each replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered and then ratio of right ventricle weight to total ventricle weight calculated.The our results showed that Arg treatment had the highest body weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio in total period. Red blood cell, hematocrit, hemoglobin and plasma level protein was significantly lower in Arg and Arg- Vitamin E treatments compared to other group at d 42. Plasma protein was lower in Arg- Vitamin E treatment compared to control treatment. Also, lactate dehydrogenase activity was significantly lower in Arg group and alanine transaminase activity was significantly higher in Arg- Vitamin E group at d 21. Moreover, ratio of right ventricle weight to total ventricle and mortality due to Ascites, were significantly lower in Arg group.