Influence of in-ovo vitamin E and ascorbic acid injections on chick development, hatching performance and antioxidant content in different tissues of newly-hatched quail chicks

Abstract

ABSTRACT 1. This study determined the influence of in ovo (IO) vitamin E and ascorbic acid injections on hatching performance, chick development and antioxidant content of different tissues in day-old quail chicks. The experiment compared a control group (C: non-injection group) and injection groups, which had the yolk sac injected with 3.75 mg α- tocopherol (T1), or had the amniotic sac injected with 0.9% saline solution (T2), 2.5 mg ascorbic acid containing 0.9% saline solution (T3) and 2.5 mg ascorbic acid solution (T4), respectively. 2. Mean relative asymmetry (RA) of bilateral lengths increased in the T2, T3 and T4 groups, whereas it decreased in the T1 group compared to C. The highest total carotene content in the residual yolk sac (RYS) was seen for the T1 group, which was significantly higher compared to T2, T3 and T4 groups. The highest total carotene concentration in the liver was in the T1 group. 3. The concentrations of delta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and total vitamin E in RYS tissue were significantly higher in the T1 group than T2, T3 and T4 groups. Alpha-tocopherol and total vitamin E levels in the liver were significantly higher in the T2 and T4 groups than C. 4. In ovo injections of vitamin E and ascorbic acid to different embryonic sacs caused antioxidant-specific effects on developmental stability of bilateral traits, RYS absorption, concentrations of total carotene and derivatives of vitamin E in newly hatched quail chicks.