Plasma amino acid concentration in neonatal chicks modified by acute stress

To clarify the influence of acute stress on plasma amino acid concentrations, chicks were exposed to either restraint with isolation stress or fasting stress. In restraint with isolation-induced stress, plasma L-hydroxyproline, L-serine, L-asparagine, β-alanine, L-alanine, L-histidine, L-arginine, L-proline, L-methionine, L-leucme, L-phenylalanme and L-ornithine decreased compared with the control. During fasting stress, L-asparagine, β-alanine, L-histidine, GABA, L-threonine, L-arginine, L-proline, L-methionine, L-leucine, L-phenylalanine and L-ornithine linearly decreased while, tryptophan increased. Most of the amino acids modified in both acute stresses have been recognized to have a role in sedation and/or hypnosis. Ammo acids quickly metabolized during acute stress should be supplemented before and/or after stressful conditions to support chicken health.