Effects of saltwater feeding and reduced food intake on femurs of domestic ducklings.
Seven-day-old domestic ducklings were assigned to groups and fed freshwater and food ad libitum (control), 1% NaCl and food ad libitum (stressed), or freshwater and only as much food as the stressed group ate (starved). Tissues were sampled after 3 and 7 days. Other groups of ducklings were fed freshwater and food ad libitum for 9 days (control), 1% NaCl and food ad libitum for 7 days followed by freshwater for 2 days (de-stressed), or freshwater and the same amount of food as the de-stressed group for 7 days followed by food ad libitum for 2 days (de-starved). Body weights were recorded and the femurs were analyzed. Univariate, multivariate, and allometric analyses clearly demonstrate that stressed and starved regimens influence femoral morphology differently. Stressing for 3 days reduced femoral ash and by 7 days had retarded femoral linear growth. Three days of starvation produced no apparent effect on the femur, but starvation for 7 days reduced the amount of femoral ash/femoral length. Furthermore, major differences between stressed and starved ducks disappeared after de-stressing for 2 days. Studies of bone growth and metabolism may benefit by using this avian model.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004372:Ducks; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology
D012965:Sodium Chloride