Poult Sci. 2017 Jun 1;96(6):1609-1614. doi: 10.3382/ps/pew466.
Femoral head necrosis (FHN) is a common disorder in fast-growing broilers in the poultry industry, but the pathogenesis of FHN has not been clarified completely. In the present study, glucocorticoid (GC) administration was used to induce FHN in broilers. Compared with normal birds, histopathology showed that the length of the articular cartilage of GC-induced FHN broilers was thicker while the proliferative zone and prehypertrophic zone were obviously thinner. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed the apoptotic chondrocyte in the growth plate of the femoral head in FHN-affected birds. Bone parameters also decreased significantly in GC-induced FHN broilers. In addition, as for the mRNA expression, GC-induced FHN broilers had an apparent reduction in Col-II, Col-X, and Bcl-2 but a significant promotion of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, ASK-1, and JNK-1 when compared with the normal birds. It showed glucocorticoid induced FHN in broilers by affecting the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of chondrocytes accompanying the retarding of bone growth.
股骨头坏死（FHN）是家禽业中快速生长肉鸡的一种常见疾病，但 FHN 的发病机制尚未完全阐明。在本研究中，使用糖皮质激素（GC）给药来诱导肉鸡发生 FHN。与正常鸟类相比，组织病理学显示 GC 诱导的 FHN 肉鸡的关节软骨长度较厚，而增殖区和预肥大区明显变薄。此外，苏木精和伊红（HE）染色显示在股骨头生长板中出现凋亡的软骨细胞。在 GC 诱导的 FHN 肉鸡中，骨参数也显著下降。此外，就 mRNA 表达而言，与正常鸟类相比，GC 诱导的 FHN 肉鸡的 Col-II、Col-X 和 Bcl-2 明显减少，但 Caspase-3、Caspase-9、ASK-1 和 JNK-1 显著增加。结果表明，糖皮质激素通过影响软骨细胞的增殖、分化和凋亡以及骨生长的减缓，诱导肉鸡发生 FHN。
