This experiment was conducted to study the effects of nucleotide supplementation on induced ascites and its effects on growth performance, blood metabolites and expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) mRNA in Ross 308 broiler chickens. A total of 672 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated to eight treatments with two levels of common salt in drinking water (0 and 2 g/lit) and four dietary supplemental levels of nucleotides (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg diet). Each treatment was included 7 replicates of 12 birds each. The experimental design was a completely randomized in a factorial arrangement. In this study, 0.2% salt in drinking water induced ascites, decreased body weight (BW), and increased mortality, right ventricle (RV) weight as well as RV to total ventricles ratio (P<0.05). Results showed that nucleotide levels of 0.05 and 0.1% significantly decreased RV weight and blood T3 concentration on 42 d. Interaction effects between salt and nucleotide supplement revealed that, 0.1% nucleotide level in salt group significantly reduced blood T3 concentration in compare with non-nucleotide supplemented and normal water group. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics and the expression of HIF-1α mRNA in heart of broilers were not significantly affected by excess salt, nucleotide supplement and their interaction. It was concluded that 0.5 g/kg dietary nucleotide supplementation decreased ascites parameter of RV/BW ratio in broiler chickens.

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