The use of India ink and 51Cr-labeled microspheres in examining the function of the yolk stalk as a passageway between the yolk sac and intestine in posthatch broiler chicks

Abstract

India ink and radioactive 51Cr-labeled microspheres were used in separate trials to examine the role of the yolk stalk lumen as a distinct pathway between the yolk sac and gut through the first 5 d of posthatch growth in broiler chicks. Throughout this period, India ink was able to pass from the yolk sac through the yolk stalk and into the intestine, but was not able to pass from the intestine into the yolk stalk or yolk sac. Furthermore, labeled microspheres moved from the yolk sac via the yolk stalk into the gut; which caused the total counts per minute of the intestine, yolk stalk, and excreta to progressively increase. It was concluded that India ink and 51Cr-labeled microspheres were useful materials in establishing that the yolk stalk provides a direct one-way passage by which material in the yolk sac may move into the intestine of broiler chicks during the first 5 d after hatching.