Abstract: The experiment was designed to study the effect of pine needle on immune function and serum cholesterol of chickens.240 healthy Roman cocks (1 day old) were randomly divided into 4 groups,3 replicates in each group and 20 chickens per replicate.The control group was fed with basal diet and normal drinking water,groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ were fed with the adding of 0.5 and 1.0 g pine needle powder,group Ⅲ was fed with pine needle decoction of 0.5 g.Pre-trial period was 4 d,formally trial period was 70 d.The results showed that the percentage of CD3⁺CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were higher than that in control group at the 15 day after the first immunization,but that percentage of groups Ⅰand Ⅱ were lower than control group at the 30,45 and 60 days,Group Ⅲ was lower than control group at the 45 day.The percentage of CD3⁺CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ were higher than that in control group at the 15,30 and 45 days after the first immunization,but that percentage of groups Ⅰand Ⅲ were lower than control group at the 60 day.At the 14 and 21 days after the first immunization,the level of NDV antibody in groups Ⅰand Ⅱ were lower than that in control group,but it was higher than control group at the 28 and 35 days.The level of NDV antibody in group Ⅲ was higher than that in control group at the 14 and 21 days while it was lower at the 7 and 35 days.The levels of serum total cholesterol and triglyceride in groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ had lower trend compared with control group,and the level of serum triglyceride in groups Ⅰand Ⅱ was significantly lower than that in control group and group Ⅲ (P<0.05).The level of serum low density lipoprotein in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was lower than that in control group,while the level of serum high density lipoprotein in group Ⅱ was higher than that in control group,but there were no significant differences (P>0.05).In conclusion,the pine needle could promote the proliferation and differentiation of T lymphocytes,improve the content of CD3⁺CD4⁺ and CD3⁺CD8⁺ lymphocyte,collaborate with vaccine to enhance the specific immune,and reduce the serum cholesterol level in different degrees.

Key words: pine needle; chicken; immune function; serum cholesterol