الفهرس 
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Abstract
The purpose of this feeding trial was to determine the protective impact of pumpkin seed essential oil (PSO) supplemented diets in reducing the neative impacts of heat stress on growing rabbits. The first group was raised under normal conditions (CON), while the other 4 groups were exposed to high ambient temperature and fed a control diet supplemented with 0 (PSO0.0), 0.5 (PSO0.05), 1.0 (PSO1.0), and 2.0 (PSO2.0) ml PSO/kg diet. Results indicated that all supplemented groups and CON have higher live body wight in compared with the PSO0.0 group at 9 weeks of age. Supplementing of PSO resulted in significantly improvement in weight gain during the experiment period compared with PSO0.0 group. The highest feed intake was detected in PSO0.05 group compared with that in other groups. The best results for FCR were detected in PSO1.0 and PSO2.0 groups. All hepatic and renal function parameters improved significantly in the rabbits fed a high dose of PSO as compared to the PSO0.0. Supplementing of PSO had the lowest plasma glucose, cortisol, thyroid, and corticosterone were noticed to be equivalent to the CON group. PSO dietary supplementation notably improved all anti-oxidative and immunolgoblins (IgA, and Ig G) indicesand lowered levels of MDA, and NO.Both PSO1.0 and PSO2.0 groups showed a significant (p<0.001) increase in IL-4 levels and decreased significantly (p<0.001) TNF-α, and IL-1β compared to the other experimental groups. Histolgical featrues of intestinal and hepatic tissues were improved and sustained by dietary PSO inclsuion. The expressing of caspase-3 was augmented in HS group, while supplementing of PSO resorted this elevation. In conclusion, adding pumpkin seed oil up to 2 ml/kg diet for growing rabbits is indorsed to promote growth as well as antioxidant and immunological status under heat stress conditions.