ABSTRACT
Eggs (n = 1,800) obtained from Ross broiler breeders at 32 and 48 wk of age were incubated at either a constant temperature of 37.6°C throughout (T1), or the temperature was reduced for 6 h to 36.6°C each day during embryonic age (EA) 10 to 18 (T2). Yolk sac, liver, and brain fatty acid profiles and oxidant and antioxidant status of liver and brain were measured at EA 14, 19, and day of hatch (DOH). Fatty acid profiles of yolk sac, liver, and brain were influenced by age of breeder with significant breeder hen age × incubation temperature interactions. At EA 14, higher levels of 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 had been transferred from the yolk sac to T2 embryos from younger than older breeders, whereas for T1 and T2 embryos, yolk sac 20:4n-6 and 22.6n-3 values were similar for older breeders. Accumulation of 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 fatty acids in the liver of T1 and T2 embryos from younger breeders was similar; however, T2 embryos from older breeders had higher liver levels of 20:4n-6 and 22:6n-3 than T1 embryos. At EA 19, liver nitric oxide levels were higher for T2 embryos from younger breeders than those from breeders incubated at T1. Brain catalase levels of T2 embryos from younger breeders were higher than those from older breeders at DOH. Thus, changes in fatty acid profiles and catalase and nitric oxide production of brain and liver tissues resulting from 1°C lower incubation temperature from EA 10 to 18 reflect adaptive changes.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/metabolism , Chick Embryo/enzymology , Chick Embryo/metabolism , Fatty Acids/metabolism , Animal Husbandry , Animals , Brain/metabolism , Catalase/genetics , Catalase/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology , Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/physiology , Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism , Liver/chemistry , Liver/metabolism , Malondialdehyde/metabolism , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Temperature , Yolk Sac/chemistry , Yolk Sac/metabolismABSTRACT
1. Increased concentrations of maternal corticosterone are deposited into egg yolk under stress conditions. This experiment investigated the effect of maternal corticosterone on yolk and yolk sac fatty acid profiles of eggs and developing broiler embryos. 2. At 42 weeks of age, 200 broiler breeder females were randomly divided into two groups: maternal corticosterone (MC): 2 mg/hen/d of corticosterone dissolved in 1 mL of 99% ethanol and mixed in the individual daily feed for a 14 d period, and control: 1 mL of ethanol added to the individual daily feed. Hens were inseminated, and eggs were collected daily from d 3 of corticosterone feeding to d 14 and incubated. Fatty acid profiles of egg yolk and yolk sac were analysed before incubation and at 12, 14, 18 and 21 d of incubation. 3. Yolk corticosterone concentrations were greater in MC eggs. Before incubation, eggs from MC had lower DHA (22 : 6 n-3) but higher stearic (18 : 0) and dihomo-gamma linolenic (20 : 3 n-6 Cis 8,11,14) acid content compared with the control. 4. Higher concentrations of stearic (18 : 0), elaidic (18 : 1 tr n-9), eicosenoic (20 : 1 n-9), eicosadienoic (20 : 2 n-6), dihomo-gamma linoleic (20 : 3 n-6) and arachidonic (20 : 4 n-6) acids and lower concentrations of myristic (14 : 0), palmitoleic (16 : 1 n-7), linoleic (18 : 2 n-6) and DHA (22 : 6 n-3) were found at different periods of incubation in the residual yolk sac of MC than from controls. 5. The results suggest that the preferentially selective absorption of fatty acids is related to specific tissue requirements.
Subject(s)
Chickens/metabolism , Corticosterone/pharmacology , Embryonic Development , Fatty Acids/metabolism , Yolk Sac/chemistry , Animals , Chick Embryo , Corticosterone/metabolism , Docosahexaenoic Acids/metabolism , Female , MaleABSTRACT
The aim of the research was to evaluate embryo composition and changes in egg yolk fatty acid composition during embryonic development as a function of incubation temperature and age of breeders. Eggs obtained from a common breeder stock at 3 ages: 32 (younger), 42 (mid age), and 65 (older) wk were divided into 2 groups and placed into 2 incubators: the control and the second where eggs were heat-acclimated (HA) at 38.5 degrees C for 6 h daily from d 10 to 18 of incubation. Body composition of embryos and chicks were measured on d 14, 18, and at hatch, respectively. Fatty acid profiles of yolk and residual egg yolk sac of chicks were analyzed before incubation and at hatch, respectively. Moisture content of embryos was highest on d 14 and then decreased regardless of parental age and incubation temperature. Moisture content of chicks at hatch from 42- and 65-wk parents were lower than those of chicks from 32-wk parents, whereas the trend in chick fat content was opposite. Incubation temperature had no effect on composition of chicks. Consistently lower cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-eicosapentaenoic (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA; 22:6n-3) and cis-11,14,17-eicosatrienoic (20:3n-3) fatty acids in the residual yolk sac of chicks than in egg yolks before incubation may have resulted from preferential uptake from the yolk. The DHA content in the residual yolk sac was considerably higher in chicks from older parents incubated at HA, whereas, in contrast, levels of 18:3n-3 were lower. Also, chicks from younger parents in the HA treatment had lower transported 18:3n-3 and higher levels of transported DHA. It may be concluded that this process observed during the high incubation temperature may be related to a protective strategy and thus contributes to postnatal heat adaptation.
