Objectives of this study were to examine effects of dietary pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) on copper and vitamin A metabolism in the chicken which are very susceptible to the hepatoxic effects of PA and Japanese quail which are highly resistant to PA. Also, the possible interaction between copper and vitamin A in the two species and effect of PA on retention of previously stored vitamin A in the chicken were investigated. Three experiments were designed. Experiment 1 was to examine the effect of feeding the PA-containing plant tansy ragwort (TR)(Senecio jacobaea) on tissue levels of copper and vitamin A in the chicken. Experiment 2 was to investigate if dietary PA affected the retention of previously stored vitamin A in the chicken. Experiment 3 was to determine if hepatoxic effects of PA are necessary to influence copper and vitamin A metabolism in Japanese quail. In experiment 1, a 2x2x2 factorial design with dietary 0 and 5% TR, 0 and 250 ppm copper, and 0 and 25,000 IU/kg diet vitamin A was used. The results showed that body weight gain was reduced (P < 0.01) in birds fed TR. Both serum and liver copper concentrations were markedly increased (P <0.01) in the TR-fed group with 250 ppm copper supplement. Zinc concentrations in the serum and liver were significantly decreased (P <0.05) in the TR-fed groups compared to TR-free groups. Liver iron was increased (P <0.05) in the TR-fed birds. The serum vitamin A levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in all TR-fed groups. The ranges of decrease were from 62 to 72 % in four TR -fed groups. The liver vitamin A concentrations were also significantly decreased (P <0.05) in TR-fed groups without vitamin A supplement. The effects of PA on liver and blood vitamin A concentration may reflect PA inhibition of synthesis of retinol-binding proteins, or impaired vitamin A absorption from reduced biliary excretion. There was no interaction between dietary copper and vitamin A levels and tissue concentrations of these nutrients. In experiment 2, a two period experiment was carried out. In the first period, two groups of chicks were fed a diet containing 25,000 IU vitamin A/kg diet for two weeks followed by a control or TR-containing diet for four weeks. Blood samples were taken at 4 day intervals for 24 days. It was found that by day 8, serum vitamin A levels were significantly depressed (P <0.05). After 24 days of PA exposure, serum vitamin A levels were reduced by 55 % and 8.5% in the TR-fed group and the control group, respectively. Liver concentration of vitamin A was increased (P < 0.05) at day 24 of TR feeding, while liver vitamin A concentration in birds fed the control diet was decreased by 13% over the same period. The results indicate that PA inhibit the mobilization of previously stored vitamin A from the liver, probably by inhibiting hepatic synthesis of retinol-binding proteins. Experiment 3 was a 2x2x2 factorial design with added 0 and 5% tansy ragwort, 0 and 250 ppm copper, and 0 and 25,000 IU/kg diet vitamin A. The results showed that consumption of TR did not affect the growth rate of Japanese quail. There were no significant differences in the serum copper concentrations among all treatment groups. Liver copper levels were decreased with TR feeding (P <0.05). The concentrations of zinc and iron in the serum and liver were normal in TR-fed groups compared to the controls. There was no significant effect (P >0.05) on the serum vitamin A concentration. The liver vitamin A concentrations were also not significantly different with the exception of the basal TR group. Copper supplementation of the diet increased serum vitamin A levels (P <0.05). The results suggest that hepatotoxicity is necessary to induce the changes in tissue levels of copper and vitamin A seen in PA-susceptible species. / Graduation date: 1991

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 111 p.; also includes graphics. Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Michael S. Lilburn, Dept. of Animal Science. Includes bibliographical references (p. 100-111).

Thesis (M.S.)--Villanova University, 2008. / Biology Dept. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-60). Also available via the Internet.

No description available.

This study was designed to examine the influence of dietary protein and restricted feeding on body composition of Japanese quail at the onset of lay. The first experiment utilized five isocaloric diets containing either 26%, 24%, 20%, 16%, or 14% crude protein. Each diet was fed to three groups of quail: one group was fed <i>ad libitum</i>, a second group was fed 80% of <i>ad libitum</i>, and the third was fed 60% of <i>ad libitum</i> intake. Age at the onset of lay was successfully delayed. The quail fed the lower protein levels entered lay at later ages than those fed the high protein diets. Likewise, the restricted fed groups achieved lay at later ages than the <i>ad libitum</i> fed groups. Other traits examined in this experiment including body weight, breast weight, abdominal fat pad weight, carcass lipid and shank length produced inconsistent results. The final experiment incorporated identical diets and feeding regimes as the previous study. Age at the onset of lay was influenced by dietary protein level and feeding regime. The dietary protein level by feeding regime interaction was also significant. The groups fed the higher protein diet <i>ad libitum</i> tended to enter lay at younger ages than did the groups fed restricted amounts of the diets containing less protein. The other traits measured were more consistent than in the first experiment. The early maturing quail tended to enter lay with heavier body weights1 larger breast percentage and lower carcass lipid percentages. The last groups to achieve lay did so with lower breast weight percentages and higher carcass lipid percentages. Shank length, or skeletal growth, also may have been an important factor in the onset of lay. This effect was apparently independent of lean tissue. Adipocyte cellularity measurements were inconsistent. Body composition differences were apparent as age at the onset of lay was increased by dietary manipulations. It was speculated that early maturing quail reach oviposition when a minimum chronological age or "critical" lipid level was reached. The late maturing quail entered lay when a "critical" lean percent or skeletal size was attained. The intermediate maturing quail, like the late maturers, achieved oviposition when percent lean or skeletal size reached "critical" levels. Thus, one of these four factors appeared limiting for each group to achieve lay. The attainment of the critical level of the limiting trait allowed the quail to achieve sexual maturity. / M.S.

ABSTRACT This study reports on the results of a selection experiment using Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with the aim of assessing the impact of a number of selection regimes on tolerance to heat stress as measured by growth rate. Four lines were selected for six generations for increased weight gain from 14-28 days of age under either high (W, 32ºC) or normal (C, 25ºC) temperature conditions on either a high (H, 250 g/kg) or low (L, 150 g/kg) protein diet. Both diets contained 13.0 MJ ME/kg. The four selected lines were thus designated WH, CH, WL and CL. Fortnightly hatches were produced each generation from matings between 12 males and 36 females per line, with the parents of the next generation selected from approximately 100 birds per sex per line. A randomly selected control line (line C) of similar size was also maintained and reared in all cages with the selected line birds. Each generation, a third hatch of birds was reared and approximately 20 birds per line per environment were placed in single-bird cages to measure correlated responses in weight gain and feed efficiency in all four temperature/ dietary protein environments. In addition, correlated responses were measured in body composition and an assessment of the relative responses of the lines to early post-hatch epigenetic heat conditioning and to dietary addition of betaine (an osmolyte) were undertaken. The final study involved measurement of correlated response in the lines in the components of reproductive performance. On the high protein diet, response in growth rate relative to the control line in all selected lines was positive under both temperature environments, and by generations 5 and 6 growth rate was higher in the WH than in the CH line birds in both temperature environments. As weight gain was the selection criterion, these results suggest that selection for increased growth rate under high temperature conditions may not only be beneficial for progeny reared under high temperature conditions, but might also be at least as effective as selection under normal temperatures for progeny reared under normal temperature conditions. Whilst there was no equivalent advantage in feed efficiency in the WH line birds in either temperature environment, and the results arise from a comparison between un-replicated lines, they certainly indicate that such a selection approach is unlikely to have deleterious consequences. There was no benefit in either growth rate or feed efficiency under either temperature environments achieved through selection of birds on a low protein diet, irrespective of the selection temperature conditions. This indicates that irrespective of environmental temperature either during selection or subsequently, any possible advantage obtained through a reduction in the protein breakdown rate conferred through selection on a diet limiting in protein is outweighed by other factors contributing to a lower heritability and poorer response in these lines. In contrast to the WH line, the CH line birds in the normal temperature conditions were significantly (P<0.01) leaner under high than normal temperature conditions, although these differences were not reflected in differences in feed efficiency. On the low protein diet, females were considerably fatter than males and the CL line birds had a considerably higher proportion of body fat than either their WL or C line counterparts. Responses in body composition emphasise the inadvisability of selecting birds for growth rate under protein deficient diets, particularly if they are expected to perform under high temperature conditions on either high or low protein diets. In a study of the effect of early post-hatch epigenetic heat conditioning on subsequent performance in the single-bird cages, half of the chicks from each line were exposed at 2 days of age to 38OC for 24 hours. The results of the study showed that there was a positive effect of heat conditioning, as measured by subsequent growth rate, in birds selected for increased growth rate under normal temperatures. However, selection for increased heat tolerance appeared to render the birds refractory to the beneficial effects of epigenetic conditioning. This suggests that the physiological pathways exploited by epigenetic heat conditioning are also utilised in selection for heat tolerance. Inclusion of betaine in the diet at 0.5 g/kg had a beneficial effect upon growth performance from 14-28 days of age in birds kept under high temperature conditions, but the degree of the effect was influenced by other factors possibly associated with the nutrient (and particularly the amino acid) composition of the diet. There was a lack of consistency in the relative responses of the lines to betaine supplementation indicating that it is unlikely that osmoprotection contributes in any meaningful way to heat tolerance expressed by the lines selected under high temperature conditions. A study of reproductive performance of the birds at generation six lent support to previous published findings showing deleterious effects upon the components of reproductive performance from selection for increased growth rate. There were, however, significant differences between the selection lines which suggested beneficial outcomes from selection for growth rate under moderately high temperature conditions, particularly in breeders housed under these same conditions. Relative to selection under normal temperatures, these benefits included: early onset of lay, increased egg production, increased egg weight and improved fertility.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-138). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-190). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.