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Transmission electron microscopy of the vertical crystal layer and cuticle of the eggshell of the domestic fowl.

1. Eggshell pieces (1 cm2) were decalcified using a solution of EDTA (200 g/litre, pH 6.9 to 7.0) in paraformaldehyde (2 g/litre) and glutaraldehyde (0.5 g/litre) in phosphate buffer. 2. They were prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). 3. TEM identified a vertically aligned matrix associated with the vertical crystal layer (VCL). It is hypothesised that the vertical orientation of calcite crystals in the VCL is closely linked to this vertical matrix. 4. TEM also revealed the presence of a 2-layered cuticle, the inner layer containing vesicles which were absent in the outer. 5. Cuticular vesicles contain hydroxyapatite and are thought to play a role in the termination of shell formation. The current paper presents data relating to microbial apatitic systems that strengthen this hypothesis.

Animals↗

Spectral sensitivity of the domestic fowl (Gallus g. domesticus).

1. The spectral sensitivity of 7 broiler fowl was determined in a behavioural test. 2. Initially the birds were trained to receive a food reward by pecking at a clear, Perspex panel behind which was a light stimulus (circular, diameter = 9 mm), originating from a tungsten-halogen lamp. Subsequently, they were trained to choose between 2 panels only 1 of which was lit; the assignation of light and dark on each panel was randomly ascribed between trials. The colour of the lit panel was determined by the wavelength of the light transmitted through one of 13 closely defined narrow bandwidth filters between 326<lambda<694 nm. The flux of photons and hence the intensity of the stimulus received by the bird could be controlled by changing the voltage across the lamp. The photon flux was gradually reduced until the birds failed to detect accurately the lit panel. Success was defined as a choice of the lit panel 9 or more times in a sequence of 10 trials, providing that the sequence contained at least 4 changes in the position of the stimulus. 3. Generally, the birds showed a peak sensitivity between 540<lambda<577 nm. The results agree with electrophysiological data between 507<lambda<694 nm and psychophysical data between 500<lambda<700 nm but our data showed higher sensitivities between 380<lambda<507 nm compared with electro-physiological findings. 4. Our findings confirm that broilers can 'see' into the UV(A) range and that their spectral sensitivity is different to the human. The implication of this is that the measurement of light intensity in poultry housing using the lux unit does not accurately describe the intensity perceived by fowl. 5. Experimenters using colour, for example differently coloured lighting or food, need to account for this different sensitivity when interpreting their results.

Animals↗

The effects of restricted feeding on adrenal cortical activity in the immature domestic fowl.

1. The effect of reducing food intake to 75% of the ad libitum intake was determined from hatching to 8 weeks in young Light Sussex chickens. 2. Restricted birds were lighter throughout the experiment. 3. Relative adrenal weight tended to be greater in restricted birds but the difference decreased with time. 4. There was no depletion of adrenal cholesterol: from week 5 there was a significantly greater amount in the adrenals of restricted birds. 5. After 1 week of restriction plasma corticosterone concentration was 73% greater than in controls. It decreased progressively, falling within the normal range at 5 weeks. 6. Restricted birds were hypoglycaemic from weeks 2 to 7 and hyperlipacidaemic throughout. A negative correlation between plasma glucose and free fatty acids was found.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Thyroid function in relation to trimethylamine oxidation in immature domestic fowl fed on rapeseed meal.

1. Two groups of 12-week-old female chicks were selected for their ability to oxidise 14C-trimethylamine (TMA) after being fed on a diet containing 100 g high-glucosinolate rapeseed meal (RSM)/kg for 14 d. A third group (control) was fed on a rapeseed-free diet. Measurements of thyroid activity and hepatic TMA activity were made after a further week on the diets. 2. After feeding RSM, hepatic TMA oxidase oxidase was very low (P less than 0.001) in one group (sensitive) but was unaffected in the other group (resistant). Thyroid size was increased in both groups receiving RSM but was larger (P less than 0.001) in sensitive birds. 3. Plasma half life of thyroxine (T4) and its metabolite clearance rate were not affected by feeding RSM; thyroidal secretion was reduced (P less than 0.05) to the same extent in both groups. 4. Plasma concentration of triiodothyronine was decreased in both groups after feeding RSM (P less than 0.05); plasma T4 concentration was increased (P less than 0.05) only in sensitive birds. 5. The results indicate that the short-term depression of TMA oxidation in birds sensitive to RSM is not mediated by the thyroid.

Animal Feed↗

Keratinophilic fungi from Orissa, India, II: Isolations from feathers of wild birds and domestic fowls.

Feather samples from 117 birds, representing 11 species, were examined for keratinophilic fungi. Of these, 63 (53.8%) were found to be positive. Nine species of fungi classified in 6 genera were isolated: Aphanoascus terreus (1.7%), Chrysosporium indicum (26.4%), Chrys. tropicum (11.1%) the Chrysosporium state of Aphanoascus spp. (2.5%), the Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum (3.4%), Ctenomyces serratus (0.8%), Gymnoascoideus petalosporus (7.6%), Malbranchea spp. (6.8%), Rollandina hyalinospora (6.8%). Passer domesticus (the house sparrow) harboured the largest varieties of keratinophilic fungi: the Chrysosporium state of Arthroderma tuberculatum was found to be associated with it selectively. The associations of these keratinophilic fungi with birds were non-clinical in nature.

Animals↗

Microtubules in the spermatids of the domestic fowl.

Spermiogenesis in chicken has been examined in order to see whether the radical changes observed in cell shape can be related to the presence of cytoplasmic microtubules. A highly ordered array of tubules has been found which surrounds the nucleus as it elongates from a sphere to a slender cylinder. The structure of the array has been determined by following the tubules through 12-14 adjacent serial sections, and it is a left-handed double helix. Faint cross-bridges connect consecutive turns of the two helices. After the change in nuclear shape is complete, the helical system of microtubules disappears and is replaced by a set of almost straight tubules which run parallel to the long axis of the nucleus. These tubules remain while the spermatid nucleus condenses isotropically to its final size. We suggest that the helix is the agent which effects nuclear elongation and that the subsequent system of paraxial tubules determines the curvature of the final sperm head. Evidence for these suggestions is found in the form of spermatids which have failed to develop properly. In an appendix we consider the kinematics of single and multiple helix systems and discuss the revelance of these models to the morphogenesis of chicken spermatids.

Animals↗

Hepatic lipid metabolism in domestic fowl as influenced by dietary cereal.

The influence of dietary cereal on hepatic lipid metabolism was studied in adult Japanese quail and mature female chickens fed isoenergetic and isonitrogenous corn-soy and wheat-soy diets ad libitum. Hepatic lipid accumulation and rate of biosynthesis were significantly higher in birds fed the corn-soy diet. The differential response to the cereals was seen in ovipositing females but not in mature male quail. There were no significant concomitant changes in body composition, egg production, egg weight, body weight, feed, and energy intake. Results of sequential changes in hepatic lipid metabolism showed that reduction in liver fat was significant 2 to 3 weeks after feeding the wheat diet and was due to a significant reduction in rate of lipogenesis and the amount of triacylglycerols deposited. Plasma levels of free fatty acids and glucose were not significantly altered by the dietary regimes in laying hens. In Japanese quail fed the corn-soy diet, plasma glucose was elevated and there was evidence of impaired glucose tolerance. In vitro rate of oxidation of labeled palmitate was significantly higher in liver homogenates from birds fed the corn-soy diet. Addition of carnitine to the incubation mixtures resulted in an increase of equivalent magnitude for both treatments. Liver hemorrhages were observed in laying hens but not in Japanese quail. Addition of myo-inositol to the corn diet for Japanese quail failed to significantly alter hepatic lipid accumulation. These studies show that differences in liver lipid accumulation due to corn and wheat diets are related to changes in rate of lipogenesis.

Animals↗

Jejunal glucose absorption in selected high and low weight lines of domestic fowl.

Intestinal glucose uptake was measured in normal and dwarf chickens from lines selected fro high and low body weight. Jejunal tissue rings were excised from 9-week-old chicks and incubated in a medium containing .002 M glucose. Significantly more glucose (micromoles per gram dry tissue weight) was absorbed by tissues from the low weight line when compared to tissues from the high weight line. The dwarf gene, dw, had no effect on glucose Uptake.

Animals↗