Abstract
BackgroundMany researches about in ovo feeding (IOF) of vitamin C (VC) are gradually carried out to explore physiological development in chicken, but little studies focus on VC synthesis capacity of the embryo itself, the selection of injection site and the effectiveness of IOF of VC. This study aims to explore the above problems.ResultsKidney and yolk sac were the main organs for VC synthesis and L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) expression was lower during pre-hatch development than that during post-hatch development. Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 (SVCT1) expression was increased continuously in yolk sac from embryonic age 19 (E19) to post-hatch day 1 (D1) and in intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) from E17 to D1. Plasma VC content was higher at D1 than that at D21 and D42. IOF of VC significantly reduced GLO expression in liver, kidney and yolk sac as well as SVCT1 expression in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, but increased the VC content in plasma, brain, kidney and liver. In addition, IOF of VC obviously reduced the embryonic morality and increased the hatchability under heat stress.ConclusionsThis study suggested that IOF of VC at E11 in yolk was effective for embryonic VC supplementation. These findings provide a theoretical reference about the method of embryonic VC supplementation and effective methodology on embryonic VC nutrition in broiler chickens.
Highlights
Many researches about in ovo feeding (IOF) of vitamin C (VC) are gradually carried out to explore physiological development in chicken, but little studies focus on VC synthesis capacity of the embryo itself, the selection of injection site and the effectiveness of IOF of VC
Experimental procedures and sample collection Graphical illustration of the current study is shown in Fig. 1, and detailed descriptions are as follows: Trial 1 was conducted to demonstrate whether the endogenous VC synthesis capacity was insufficient and yolk was suitable for the injection site at embryonic age 11 (E11)
Dynamic changes of gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) and Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 (SVCT1) expression and plasma vitamin C content In liver, GLO expression gradually decreased from E11 to E17 and remained steady from E17 to D42 (P < 0.05, Fig. 2A)
Summary
Many researches about in ovo feeding (IOF) of vitamin C (VC) are gradually carried out to explore physiological development in chicken, but little studies focus on VC synthesis capacity of the embryo itself, the selection of injection site and the effectiveness of IOF of VC. Based on dynamic development of intestine, changes of amniotic fluid volume and distribution of blood vessel around yolk sac during embryonic stage [8], we speculated that yolk might be a better injection site, because the VC absorption from yolk could start earlier than that from amniotic fluid. E0, E11 and E15 were selected as potential injection times, and the results of hatchability and growth performance confirmed that E11 was the best choice [12, 13]
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