Effect of graded levels of dietary nickel and manganese on blood haemoglobin content and pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens.

Dietary supplementation with high levels of cobalt increases blood haemoglobin content and causes pulmonary hypertension (PH) in broiler chickens. Since cobalt, nickel and manganese can stimulate erythropoietin synthesis in vitro, a trial was conducted to investigate the effect of graded levels of dietary nickel and manganese on blood haemoglobin content and PH in broiler chickens. Results showed that dietary supplementation with high levels of Ni (494 parts/10(6)), and to a lesser extent Mn (372 parts/10(6)), significantly increases blood haemoglobin content and PH, as measured by the right ventricle weight to total ventricle weight ratio (RV/TV). Dietary Ni at 494 parts/10(6) significantly increases the incidence of ascites and right ventricular hypertrophy. Results show that dietary supplementation with high levels of Ni can be used as an experimental model to induce PH and ascites in broilers.