Mineral metabolism in the developing turkey embryo--I. The effects of developmental age and shell-less culture on trace element contents of selected tissues.
1. Turkey embryos were incubated in ovo or in long-term shell-less culture (ex ovo) for 14, 18, 22 or 26 days. The embryos incubated ex ovo exhibited a progressive decline in the rate of growth and were hypocalcemic and hypoproteinemic compared to their in ovo counterparts from day 18 to day 26 of incubation. 2. The ratio of the concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin (AFP/A) in serum was determined for both groups of embryos. The AFP/A ratio may be useful as a biochemical index to stage avian embryonic development. Using this index it was concluded that ex ovo embryos exhibited a progressive developmental retardation compared to in ovo embryos. 3. Significant differences were observed in serum trace element concentrations for embryos incubated in ovo vs ex ovo. Most notably, serum copper concentration was significantly lower in ex ovo embryos on days 18 and 22 of incubation and significantly higher on day 26 of incubation compared to serum from embryos incubated in ovo. 4. Livers from embryos incubated ex ovo exhibited significant differences trace element levels compared to those incubated in ovo. By day 26 of incubation the concentration and total amount of zinc and iron were markedly elevated, whereas copper was greatly reduced in the livers of embryos incubated ex ovo compared to the corresponding in ovo levels. 5. Hearts from embryos incubated ex ovo contained less zinc and copper and more iron by day 26 of incubation than those from embryos incubated in ovo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Richards
M P
MP
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, MD 20705.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*; D014422:Turkeys / Q000196:embryology*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D008903:Minerals; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014131:Trace Elements; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins