Maternal dietary ratio of linoleic acid to alpha-linolenic acid affects the passive immunity of hatching chicks.
The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of dietary ratio of linoleic acid (LA) to alpha-linolenic acid (LNA) on the humoral immune response in laying hens and further on the passive immunity of their progeny. Thirty-two Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens, 24 wk of age, were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 diets that had LA-to-LNA ratios of 0.8, 5.4, 12.5, and 27.7, respectively, by changing the proportions of sunflower and linseed oils. After 5 wk on the experimental diets, hens were immunized intramuscularly with 1 mg of BSA, followed by 2 boosters 2 and 6 wk later. Serum and egg yolk were obtained weekly from 0 to 6 wk following the first injection of BSA. One week after the second booster, fertile eggs were collected and incubated. The sera of 11-d-old embryos and hatchlings were collected. All serum samples were stored at -20 degrees C before analysis. The results showed that dietary LA-to-LNA ratio had no effect on the total IgG and BSA-specific antibody IgG concentrations in the serum or egg yolk of laying hens. Hatchlings from hens fed the diet containing the LA-to-LNA ratio of 12.4 showed lower (P < 0.05) BSA-specific IgG titer in the serum than those from hens given the diet containing LA-to-LNA ratio of 0.8. A lower (P < 0.05) total IgG concentration was observed in hatchlings from hens fed the diet containing LA-to-LNA ratio of 12.4 compared with those from hens fed diets containing 0.8 and 5.4 of LA-to-LNA ratios. It is suggested that the dietary ratio of LA to LNA has no effect on laying hen humoral response but affects the passive immunity of hatching chicks.
Wang
Y W
YW
Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
Sunwoo
H
H
Cherian
G
G
Sim
J S
JS
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D019787:Linoleic Acid