title: Influence of laying on iron metabolism in quail.
abstract: Haematological and iron content values for liver, spleen, intestines, blood, ovary and eggs were determined in female quails, from the prelaying state to full laying. A drop in hematocrit, haemoglobin and in the liver stores occurred at the onset of laying (48 to 51 d of age), but these values recovered after 5 to 10 d. The iron lost in eggs (0.3 mg Fe/egg) was responsible for this. An active homeostatic control must be necessary to supply adequate iron for both eggs and blood formation. Quails fed on an iron-deficient diet distributed iron preferentially to the haematopoietic processes, at the expense of the iron content of the eggs and a subsequent reduction of viability.
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D003370:Coturnix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D010058:Oviposition; D011784:Quail / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron