Research note: maintenance of duodenum weight during a molt induced by dietary zinc in a low-calcium diet.
The duodenal loop was excised from hens that had been induced to molt by a low-calcium diet containing 2,800 ppm zinc in the form of zinc sulfate heptahydrate. This was compared to that of hens pair-fed a layer diet. In Experiment 1, hens exhibited an increased duodenum weight after receiving the zinc diet for 14 days but no differences remained 14 days later. In Experiment 2, increased duodenum weight was noted after 4 days on the zinc diet and this persisted through 10 days. This greater tissue weight was observed whether expressed on a wet or dry weight basis. Thus, there was a persistency of tissue mass. The duodenum does not regress during a zinc-induced molt as it does during a fast-induced molt.
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Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7608.
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D000818:Animals; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D015032:Zinc