glycogen and Poultry-Diseases

Round heart disease (RHD) is a spontaneous occurring cardiomyopathy in fowl affecting primarily inbred, small broad-breasted white strains of turkeys. Etiology of RHD is unknown but factors implicated include genetic, management, enzyme deficiencies, viral, immunologic, and metabolic. Investigations of proposed etiologic factors are reviewed. Furazolidone (FZ)-induced cardiomyopathy is indistinguishable from spontaneous RHD, but it remains to be shown that both are mediated by the same mechanism(s). Studies to date suggest that FZ-induced cardiomyopathy is an exaggeration of the spontaneous condition.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Blood Proteins; Calcium; Cardiomyopathies; Cortisone; Electrocardiography; Female; Furazolidone; Glycogen; Hemodynamics; Humans; Male; Poultry Diseases; Sodium; Stress, Physiological; Turkeys; Vectorcardiography; Virus Diseases

The pharmacological and toxicological properties of furazolidone have been briefly reviewed. Among the most important pharmacological actions of furazolidone is the inhibition of mono- and diamine oxidase activities, which seem to depend, at least in some species, on the presence of the gut flora. The drug also seems to interfere with the utilization of thiamin, which is probably instrumental in the production of anorexia and loss of body weight of the treated animals. Furazolidone is known to induce a condition of cardiomyopathy in turkeys, which could be used as a model to study alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency in man. The drug is most toxic to ruminants. The toxic signs observed were of nervous nature. Experiments are in progress in this laboratory to try to explain the mechanism(s) by which this toxicity is brought about. It is uncertain whether the use of furazolidone at the recommended therapeutic dose would result in drug residues in tissues of treated animals. This is a matter of public health importance as the drug has been shown to possess a carcinogenic activity. It is important that a simple and reliable method of identification and estimation of furazolidone residues be devised. More work is needed to elucidate the mode of action and biochemical effects caused by the drug in both the host and the infective organisms.

Topics: Adrenal Glands; Alcoholism; Animals; Anorexia; Brain; Cardiomyopathies; Cattle; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Ducks; Female; Furazolidone; Glycogen; Guinea Pigs; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Liver; Mice; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; Poultry Diseases; Pregnancy; Rabbits; Rats; Thiamine Deficiency; Turkeys

Two hereditary muscular dystrophies similar to human progressive muscular dystrophy (P.M.D. Duchenne type) have been isolated in animals, one in mouse, the other in chicken. The decrease in the activity of glycogenolytic enzymes is similar to that observed in denervated muscle. Isozymic fetal types for several muscular enzymes have been observed as well in chicken as in man, but this fetal type may also be found in neurogenic atrophy. The release in circulation of muscle enzymes seems more specific. But the origin of the genetic lesion is still unknown. We describe here the three different theories about this problem: i.e. neurogenic, vascular, or myogenic. This last theory implies a trouble of membrane permeability.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Chickens; Creatine Kinase; Glycogen; Heterozygote; Humans; Isoenzymes; Mice; Muscle Proteins; Muscles; Muscular Dystrophies; Muscular Dystrophy, Animal; Myofibrils; Poultry Diseases; Rodent Diseases

Development of white striping (WS) and wooden breast (WB) in broiler breast meat have been linked to hypoxia, but their etiologies are not fully understood. This study aimed at investigating absolute expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha subunit (HIF1A) and genes involved in stress responses and muscle repair using a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction. Total RNA was isolated from pectoralis major collected from male 6-week-old medium (carcass weight ≤ 2.5 kg) and heavy (carcass weight > 2.5 kg) broilers. Samples were classified as "non-defective" (n = 4), "medium-WS" (n = 6), "heavy-WS" (n = 7) and "heavy-WS+WB" (n = 3) based on abnormality scores. The HIF1A transcript was up-regulated in all of the abnormal groups. Transcript abundances of genes encoding 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), lactate dehydrogenase-A (LDHA), and phosphorylase kinase beta subunit (PHKB) were increased in heavy-WS but decreased in heavy-WS+WB. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was up-regulated in non-defective samples. The muscle-specific mu-2 isoform of glutathione S-transferases (GSTM2) was up-regulated in the abnormal samples, particularly in the heavy groups. The genes encoding myogenic differentiation (MYOD1) and myosin light chain kinase (MYLK) exhibited similar expression pattern, of which medium-WS and heavy-WS significantly increased compared to non-defective whereas expression in heavy-WS+WB was not different from either non-defective or WS-affected group. The greatest and the lowest levels of calpain-3 (CAPN3) and delta-sarcoglycan (SCGD) were observed in heavy-WS and heavy-WS+WB, respectively. Based on micrographs, the abnormal muscles primarily comprised fibers with cross-sectional areas ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 μm2. Despite induced glycolysis at the transcriptional level, lower stored glycogen in the abnormal muscles corresponded with the reduced lactate and higher pH within their meats. The findings support hypoxia within the abnormal breasts, potentially associated with oversized muscle fibers. Between WS and WB, divergent glucose metabolism, cellular detoxification and myoregeneration at the transcriptional level could be anticipated.

Topics: Animals; Chickens; Gene Expression Regulation; Glycogen; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Lactic Acid; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscular Diseases; Pectoralis Muscles; Poultry Diseases; RNA, Messenger

This study was conducted to characterize metabolic differences between high feed efficiency (HFE) and low feed efficiency (LFE) chickens to investigate why feed efficient chickens are more susceptible to muscle abnormalities such as wooden breast disease. Gene expression profiles were generated by RNA sequencing of pectoralis major muscle samples from 10 HFE and 13 LFE broiler chickens selected from a modern broiler population. Metabolism-associated differentially expressed genes were identified and interpreted by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and literature mining. Our RNA-seq data indicate decreased glycolytic capacity, increased fatty acid uptake, mitochondrial oxidation of fatty acids, and several other metabolic alterations in the pectoralis major muscle of HFE chickens. We also quantified glycogen content of the pectoralis major muscle and found that the HFE chickens had a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower glycogen content. Collectively, this study indicates extensive metabolic differences in the pectoralis major muscle between HFE and LFE chickens and helps identify metabolic features of susceptibility to muscle disorders in modern broiler chickens.

Topics: Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Chickens; Fatty Acids; Glycogen; Muscular Diseases; Pectoralis Muscles; Poultry Diseases; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Transcriptome

This study was conducted to characterize metabolic features of the breast muscle (pectoralis major) in chickens affected with the Wooden Breast myopathy. Live birds from two purebred chicken lines and one crossbred commercial broiler population were clinically examined by manual palpation of the breast muscle (pectoralis major) at 47-48 days of age. Metabolite abundance was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using breast muscle tissue samples from 16 affected and 16 unaffected chickens. Muscle glycogen content was also quantified in breast muscle tissue samples from affected and unaffected chickens. In total, levels of 140 biochemicals were significantly different (FDR<0.1 and fold-change A/U>1.3 or <0.77) between affected and unaffected chickens. Glycogen content measurements were considerably lower (1.7-fold) in samples taken from Wooden Breast affected birds when compared with samples from unaffected birds. Affected tissues exhibited biomarkers related to increased oxidative stress, elevated protein levels, muscle degradation, and altered glucose utilization. Affected muscle also showed elevated levels of hypoxanthine, xanthine, and urate molecules, the generation of which can contribute to altered redox homeostasis. In conclusion, our findings show that Wooden Breast affected tissues possess a unique metabolic signature. This unique profile may identify candidate biomarkers for diagnostic utilization and provide mechanistic insight into altered biochemical processes contributing to tissue hardening associated with the Wooden Breast myopathy in commercial chickens.

Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Chickens; Glycogen; Lipid Metabolism; Metabolome; Metabolomics; Muscles; Nucleotides; Oxidative Stress; Poultry Diseases

Different animal models have been used to study the effects of prenatal protein undernutrition and the mechanisms by which these occur. In mammals, the maternal diet is manipulated, exerting both direct nutritional and indirect hormonal effects. Chicken embryos develop independent from the hen in the egg. Therefore, in the chicken, the direct effects of protein deficiency by albumen removal early during incubation can be examined. Prenatal protein undernutrition was established in layer-type eggs by the partial replacement of albumen by saline at embryonic day 1 (albumen-deprived group), compared to a mock-treated sham and a non-treated control group. At hatch, survival of the albumen-deprived group was lower compared to the control and sham group due to increased early mortality by the manipulation. No treatment differences in yolk-free body weight or yolk weight could be detected. The water content of the yolk was reduced, whereas the water content of the carcass was increased in the albumen-deprived group, compared to the control group, indicating less uptake of nutrients from the yolk. At embryonic day 16, 20 and at hatch, plasma triiodothyronine (T3), corticosterone, lactate or glucose concentrations and hepatic glycogen content were not affected by treatment. At embryonic day 20, the plasma thyroxine (T4) concentrations of the albumen-deprived embryos was reduced compared to the control group, indicating a decreased metabolic rate. Screening for differential protein expression in the liver at hatch using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis revealed not only changed abundance of proteins important for amino acid metabolism, but also of enzymes related to energy and glucose metabolism. Interestingly, GLUT1, a glucose transporter, and PCK2 and FBP1, two out of three regulatory enzymes of the gluconeogenesis were dysregulated. No parallel differences in gene expressions causing the differences in protein abundance could be detected pointing to post-transcriptional or post-translational regulation of the observed differences.

Topics: Albumins; Amino Acids; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Avian Proteins; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Disease Models, Animal; Eggs; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; Female; Fructose-Bisphosphatase; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Glucose; Glucose Transporter Type 1; Glycogen; Humans; Kwashiorkor; Liver; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP); Poultry Diseases; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Survival Analysis; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Thyroxine

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute, highly contagious, and immunosuppressive avian disease caused by IBD virus (IBDV). Although the effects of IBDV on bursa of Fabricius in chickens have been well reported, the impacts of IBDV on liver after IBDV infection are still unclear. In the present study, specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens were experimentally inoculated with IBDV Chinese virulent strain BC6/85, and the cells in liver and bursa were examined by immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The congestion of liver tissue and fatty degeneration of hepatocytes were characteristics of microscopical changes in chicken liver at 3 days post infection (d.p.i.), whereas there were follicular lymphoid necrosis, apoptosis, depletion, as well as edema and congestion in bursa. In addition, the number of IBDV-positive cells peaked at 4 d.p.i. in bursa and at 3 d.p.i. in liver, respectively. With respect to ultrastructural pathological changes of hepatocytes, mitochondria swelled and nucleus deformed into an irregular shape or its chromatin peripherally condensed which indicated that the hepatocyte was at the early stage of apoptosis, and the electron-lucent lipid droplets in a variety of sizes were observed within cytoplasm. Kupffer cells became "swollen-like" and the electron-density of their cytoplasm was lower than that of cells in uninfected group. Liver glycogen deposits significantly declined from 2 to 5 d.p.i. and recovered strongly at 6 d.p.i. More importantly, KLU01 (macrophage marker) positive (KUL01(+)) cells were infiltrated in bursa and liver in IBDV-exposed chickens by immunoperoxidase staining. To demonstrate the correlation between IBDV and macrophages in bursa and liver, we further investigated the colocalization of viral antigens and macrophages by double immunofluorescence labeling. At 4 d.p.i., the percentage of double positive cells (IBDV positive and KUL01(+) cells) accounted for 26.5 percent of the total IBDV positive cells or 57 percent of the total KUL01(+) cells in bursa. In comparison, the percentage of double positive cells in liver constituted 97 percent of the total IBDV positive cells or 99 percent of the total KUL01(+) cells. These results suggest that IBDV was susceptible to KUL01(+) cells in liver (mainly Kupffer cells) and replicated in the KUL01(+) cells. By comparison with the influence of IBDV on bursa, our findings were the first to elucidate the pathological changes in liver after IBDV infect

Topics: Animals; Birnaviridae Infections; Bursa of Fabricius; Chickens; Disease Susceptibility; Glycogen; Infectious bursal disease virus; Kupffer Cells; Liver; Macrophages; Poultry Diseases; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Virus Replication

Two trials were conducted to study the effects of heat stress during rearing (trial 1) and crating (trial 2) on broiler stress parameters and fear, breast meat quality, and nutrient composition. The relationships between stress parameters and meat quality traits were also determined. Trial 1 consisted of 3 temperature treatments from 3 to 7 wk: control (temperature was 22 degrees C); diurnal cyclic temperature (temperature was 28 degrees C from 1000 to 1700 h and 22 degrees C from 1700 to 1000 h); and constant high temperature (34 degrees C; temperature was 34 degrees C). In trial 2, broilers from the control and 34 degrees C groups in trial 1 were used. Broilers in each group were placed in transport cages. The 9 cages from the control group were divided into 3 groups and placed into 3 rooms at 15, 22, or 34 degrees C for 2 h. The 3 cages from the 34 degrees C group were also held in the room at 34 degrees C (34-34 degrees C). Diurnal cyclic temperature had no effect on BW up to 5 wk of age. The effect of 34 degrees C constant temperature on BW of broilers increased with age. Plasma levels of glucose and albumin increased by 34 degrees C, but no dramatic change in levels occurred when those broilers were crated at 34 degrees C. The heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) was higher for the 34-34 degrees C broilers and the control broilers in the 34 degrees C room than those from the 22 and 15 degrees C room. Breast muscle glycogen level decreased in broilers reared under diurnal cyclic or high temperatures. A lower pH and higher lightness (L*) and redness values and redness:yellowness were found in meat for broilers from both 34 degrees C and 34-34 degrees C groups. Higher H:L was associated with breast muscle pH according to first-order polynomial regression. The H:L had a significant effect on L* values, which were described by a second-order polynomial regression. Blood glucose level was positively correlated with L* and redness values. Duration of tonic immobility was neither influenced by rearing and crating temperatures nor associated with meat quality parameters.

Topics: Age Factors; Animal Husbandry; Animal Welfare; Animals; Blood Glucose; Chickens; Circadian Rhythm; Glycogen; Housing, Animal; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Immobilization; Meat; Pigmentation; Poultry Diseases; Random Allocation; Serum Albumin; Stress, Physiological; Temperature; Transportation

The root-tuber peel of Flemingia vestita and its active component, genistein, were tested in respect of glucose metabolism in the cestode, Raillietina echinobothrida. Live R. echinobothrida, collected from the intestine of freshly slaughtered domestic fowl, were incubated at 39+/-1 degrees C in defined concentrations of the root-peel crude extract (5 mg/ml), genistein (0.2 mg/ml) and praziquantel (1 microg/ml) in phosphate buffered saline with 1% of dimethyl sulphoxide with simultaneous maintenance of controls. In the treated worms, there was a significant decrease in the glycogen concentration accompanied with the decrease of glucose by 14-32%, whereas the malate concentration increased by 49-134% as compared to controls. Both in controls and treated parasites, however, the pyruvate content was not measurable. While alanine and lactate contents showed a decline by 7-25% in the parasites exposed to all test materials, the lactate efflux into the incubation medium showed 37-71% increase in treatments indicating an overall increase of lactate production in comparison to controls. The results showing a decline in the glycogen and glucose contents and a significant rise in the malate content and lactate efflux under treatment conditions suggest that the energy demand in the parasites possibly got enhanced under stress, though it did not influence a switch over towards aerobic degradation of glucose in the parasites.

Topics: Animals; Anticestodal Agents; Cestoda; Cestode Infections; Fabaceae; Genistein; Glucose; Glycogen; Plant Extracts; Plant Roots; Plant Tubers; Poultry Diseases; Praziquantel

Salmonella enteritidis accumulated large quantities of intracellular polysaccharide when grown in unrestricted nutrient conditions. Dense, abundant cytoplasmic granules were observed by electron microscopy in sections stained by the periodic acid-chlorite technique, indicating that the polysaccharide was of the glycogen type. When biofilm-producing S. enteritidis was pre-incubated in media containing increasing levels of glucose concentration, the levels of both cytoplasmic glycogen and biofilm rose correlatively to a point where a ceiling effect was observed. Studies carried out with activators and inhibitors of glycogen biosynthesis confirmed that biofilm was formed from glycogen cell stores. On the other hand, the virulence of the biofilm-producing strain in infected chickens increased proportionally to the amount of stored glycogen, suggesting a possible role of the glycogen depot in the virulence of S. enteritidis.

Topics: Animals; Biofilms; Chickens; Glucose; Glycogen; Microscopy, Electron; Poultry Diseases; Salmonella enteritidis; Salmonella Infections, Animal; Virulence

The hypothesis was tested that increased partial pressure of oxygen during the plateau (25 to 26 d of incubation for turkeys) and paranatal (27 to 28 d of incubation) stages of incubation may increase survival rates of turkeys from selected genetic lines. Partial pressure of oxygen inside the incubator cabinet was increased to 171 + 3 mm Hg of the barometric pressure during the plateau stage in oxygen consumption and compared to ambient oxygen (152 + 3 mm Hg). Turkey embryos from genetic lines selected for egg production (E) or growth (F) were compared to their respective randombred controls. These genetic lines have previously been shown to differ in egg weight, eggshell conductance, length of incubation period, embryonic gluconeogenesis, and survival rates during late incubation. Blood, liver, heart, and pipping muscle samples were obtained prior to pipping, at internal pipping and external pipping, and at hatching. The blood was analyzed for glucose concentration and the remaining tissues were assayed for glycogen concentrations. Survival rates were determined on approximately 2,200 eggs in each of three independent trials of the experiment. Interactions of oxygen treatment and genetic line were observed for embryonic survival, heart growth, and hepatic glycogen content. The data suggest that the response to increased oxygen tension in selected genetic lines has been diminished. It was concluded that embryos have been altered metabolically by genetic selection and the concomitant increase in mortality of selected lines during the plateau and paranatal stages is not simply the result of shell quality and hypoxia.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Atmospheric Pressure; Blood Glucose; Egg Shell; Environment; Female; Glucose; Glycogen; Heart; Hypoxia; Liver; Muscle, Skeletal; Myocardium; Organ Size; Oxygen; Poultry Diseases; Survival Rate; Turkeys

This paper was aimed at following up the course of glucose in the liver of protein underfed geese. Compared to normally fed geese, liver carbohydrate metabolism in protein underfed animals can be characterised by lowering of free glucose content of in vitro glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis and reduction of carbohydrates in total oxidation. Glycogen content of the liver and rate of glucose oxidation were also lowered, but these differences were not statistically significant. Summing up our results and taking into consideration some literature data, an overall reduction of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in protein underfed birds may be assumed.

Topics: Animals; Geese; Glucose; Glycogen; Liver; Oxidation-Reduction; Poultry Diseases; Protein Deficiency

During studying the pathogenicity of Ascaridia galli for young Ross-Broiler chickens fed with single doses of 100, 200 and 500 infective eggs, it was found that the infected chickens showed variable decreases in body weight gain and increases in the ratio of liver weight relative to body weight when compared with the control. Both decrease and increase was proportionally related with the number of infective eggs given to the chickens. Biochemical analysis of muscle and liver tissue of the previous groups of chickens showed a decrease in both glycogen and protein content and an increase in fat content of muscle and liver of infected chickens when compared with those of normal tissues. The decrease in the glycogen content due to ascaridiasis was mostly apparent in case of 500 egg dose and that of the protein content was noted with the egg doses of 200 and 500. Each of the three egg doses showed a significant increase in the fat content of the muscle and liver of infected chickens when compared with the control. After the sixth week of infection chickens fed with 500 eggs showed emaciation, loss of colour of combs and legs and of brightness of plumage, diarrhoea, drooping wings, ruffled feathers and a gradual loss of strength manifested by leg weakness. At autopsy, the small intestine showed external macroscopic lesions of haemorrhage and congestion. Intestinal obstruction with adult Ascaridia galli was also found in the infected birds.

Topics: Animals; Ascaridiasis; Chickens; Glycogen; Lipids; Liver; Liver Diseases, Parasitic; Liver Glycogen; Muscle Proteins; Muscles; Organ Size; Poultry Diseases; Proteins; Weight Gain

Ultrastructural alterations were studied in spontaneous round heart and furazolidone (FZ)-induced cardiomyopathy in turkey poults 20 to 31 days after hatching. The two most consistent morphological changes were abnormal accumulation of cytoplasmic glycogen and myofibrillar lysis. These alterations were more extensive in the drug-induced condition, which suggests that more myocytes are affected than in the spontaneous form of the disease. Data indicate that the myocyte contractile proteins sustain the major injury while other organelles appear to be involved only in an incidental manner. These findings corroborate previous suppositions which pointed toward a metabolic defect as the basic mechanism underlying the development of both spontaneous round heart and FZ-induced cardiomyopathy in turkey poults.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Cardiomyopathies; Furazolidone; Glycogen; Lipid Metabolism; Lysosomes; Microscopy, Electron; Mitochondria, Heart; Myocardium; Myofibrils; Poultry Diseases; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

Infection with Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, or Eimeria tenella affected the composition of the breast, thigh, heart, and liver of 3 or 4-week-old broilers. Liver glycogen was significantly increased at 6 and 8 days postinoculation (PI) with E. acervulina. Conversely, liver glycogen was decreased at 4 and 6 days PI with E. tenella and was unaffected by infection with E. brunetti. The levels of RNA and lipid in the liver were decreased with E. acervulina but unchanged with E. tenella. Both species decreased RNA levels in the breast. None of the three coccidial species had any effect on the moisture, ash, protein, or DNA content of the tissues.

Topics: Animals; Chickens; Coccidiosis; Glycogen; Liver; Male; Muscles; Myocardium; Poultry; Poultry Diseases; RNA

Topics: alpha-Glucosidases; Animals; Coturnix; Glycogen; Glycogen Storage Disease; Glycogen Storage Disease Type II; Poultry Diseases; Quail

Furazolidone (FZ) at 700 ppm was added to feed mixtures fed turkey poults two weeks posthatching to induce experimental cardiomyopathy. Poults in the control pen received the same ration but without FZ. From ECG data obtained at weekly intervals, poults were selected for sacrifice at 3, 4, and 5 weeks of age. Myocardial samples from the right and left ventricular free walls were analyzed for glycogen by biochemical assay technics. Levels of glycogen were significantly (p less than .01) elevated in the FZ-treated poults at 3, 4, and 5 weeks of age. At all ages, the increase occurred in both the acid-soluble (TCA) and acid-insoluble (KOH) fractions with a proportionately greater increase in the TCA fraction. Results suggest that the effect of FZ on myocardial glycogen metabolism occurs very early and is more pronounced in the right ventricle than in the left ventricle even though both chambers may exhibit similar gross changes.

Topics: Animals; Cardiomyopathies; Furazolidone; Glycogen; Myocardium; Poultry Diseases; Turkeys

The effect of the dietary status of vitamin A on carbohydrate metabolism, postmortem isometric tension development, and shear resistance of Pectoralis major muscle was studied. Depletion studies conducted over a 5-week period indicated a definite influence of vitamin A deficiency on muscle carbohydrate metabolism. Mild hypovitaminosis A induced an increase in glycogen deposition, whereas severe deficiency led to a reduction of these elevated stores. Vitamin A deficiency did not affect the ability of P. major strips to develop isometric tension postmortem. The P. major strips sampled from deficient cockerels generally required longer to reach maximum tension than those of controls. The extended times to maximum tension reflected an increased muscle glycogen content. A significant increase in shear value similarly corresponded to the increased myofibrillar contraction noted in the later deficiency stages. Cockerels which had previously received for five weeks a ration completely deficient in vitamin A were utilized for a two-week repletion study. Although there was a distinct delay in response to the feeding of a vitamin A adequate ration, the muscle glycogen content, isometric tension parameters, and shear values of repleted birds were similar to those of controls within the two-week period.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Chickens; Glycogen; Male; Muscle Contraction; Muscles; Poultry Diseases; Vitamin A Deficiency

Furazolidone (FZ) at 700 ppm was added to feed mixtures fed turkey poults 2--5 weeks after hatching to induce acute experimental cardiomyopathy. Poults in the control pen received the same ration but without FZ. From EKG data obtained at weekly intervals, poults were selected for sacrifice at 5 and 10 weeks of age. Poults were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and appropriate samples of tissue from the left ventricle, liver, pectoralis and tibialis cranialis muscles were removed for glycogen assays. Character of glycogen, as determined by percent of branching and number of glucose units per segment, was not significantly altered in poults with spontaneous round heart disease or FZ-induced cardiomyopathy. This suggests that the glycogen accumulation noted in these conditions most closely resembles type II glycogenosis.

Topics: Animals; Cardiomyopathies; Furazolidone; Glucose; Glycogen; Glycogen Storage Disease; Glycogen Storage Disease Type II; Heart Diseases; Liver; Liver Glycogen; Muscles; Myocardium; Pectoralis Muscles; Poultry Diseases; Turkeys

Adding 900 p.p.m. silver (as silver nitrate) to a practical diet for chicks significantly depressed growth, increased wet and dry heart weight to body weight ratios and markedly increased mortality during a four-week experimental period. Blood packed cell volume was not affected. Supplementing the diet containing silver with 50 p.p.m. copper prevented cardiac enlargement and mortality, but only partially corrected the growth depression. Glycogen content of the heart was not affected, but aortic elastin content was significantly reduced by silver and restored to normal by supplemental copper. Dietary silver significantly reduced the copper content of blood, spleen, brain, liver, but except for the brain, the level of copper in these tissues was restored to normal by dietary copper supplementation. No significant differences in copper content of kidney tissue were observed among the treatment. Copper content of the excreta was not significantly increased by adding dietary silver, but was greatly increased by adding 50 p.p.m copper to the diet containing silver.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Aorta; Brain; Cardiomegaly; Chickens; Copper; Diet; Elastin; Glycogen; Kidney; Liver; Myocardium; Poultry Diseases; Silver; Spleen

The influence of exogenous thyroid hormones on glycogen-body and liver glycogen was studied in fasted and full-fed 3 wk. old dwarf and non-dwarf White Leghorn chickens. The results indicated that in contrast to normals, the glycogen-body of the dwarf was still physiologically active at age 3 wks. and they also exhibited a relatively higher liver glycogen concentration. The liver glycogen concentration was significantly higher in T3-treated, full-fed dwarf chickens when compared with other groups. The data were interpreted to suggest that the differential response observed in both dwarf and non-dwarf chickens of increasing liver glycogen levels with T3 and T4 injections indicated that the proper ratios of serum T3:T4 were probably more vital to the normal metabolic functions than changes in the individual concentrations of either T3 or T4.

Topics: Animals; Chickens; Dwarfism; Female; Genes, Recessive; Glycogen; Liver Glycogen; Poultry Diseases; Sex Chromosomes; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Hormones; Thyroxine; Triiodothyronine

Topics: Animals; Cestoda; Cestode Infections; Chickens; Cortisone; Ecology; Glycogen; Injections, Subcutaneous; Intestines; Leukocyte Count; Poultry Diseases

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adrenal Glands; Animal Feed; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Chickens; Corticosterone; Female; Glycogen; Male; Organ Size; Poultry Diseases; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Catecholamines; Chickens; Glucosyltransferases; Glycogen; Lactates; Liver; Liver Glycogen; Pectoralis Muscles; Poultry Diseases; Vitamin A Deficiency

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Chickens; Coccidiosis; Glucose; Glycogen; Hematocrit; Lactates; Muscles; Myocardium; Poultry Diseases

Topics: Animals; Arginine; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Biopsy; Blood; Diet; Electron Transport Complex IV; Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase; Glycogen; Methionine; Muscles; Muscular Dystrophy, Animal; Poultry Diseases; Regeneration; Succinate Dehydrogenase; Vitamin E Deficiency