Eggshell Calcification Research Articles

Electrolyte secretion by the magnum of the domestic fowl during egg-shell calcification

1. 1. The magnum of the domestic fowl contains a fluid during the formation of egg-shells in the shell gland. 2. 2. Compared with blood plasma, the fluid contains greater concentrations of calcium, magnesium and potassium, and higher levels of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate than whole blood. 3. 3. Measurements of the arterio-venous differences across the magnum showed that the magnum removes calcium, magnesium and potassium from the blood, and synthesizes high levels of carbon dioxide.

Eggshell Calcification with Systemic Sarcoidosis

Three cases of eggshell calcification in hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with systemic sarcoidosis are presented. A number of common features, ie presence of systemic disease, parenchyma] involvement by chest radiography, and prior treatment with steroids are discussed.

The Influence of Egg Shell Formation and the Autonomic Inhibitory Drugs Atropine, Phenoxybenzamine and Propranolol on 45Ca Loss from the Plasma of the Domestic Hen

Anaesthetized hens were each given a single pulse of 45Ca and the rates at which counts were lost from the plasma were monitored and analysed. The influence of egg shell calcification and the autonomic inhibitors atropine, phenoxybenzamine and propranolol upon the system was examined. The uptake of 45Ca by the egg shell under the influence of the above drugs was also followed. It was found that one component of the plasma 45Ca disappearance rate curve could be correlated with egg shell calcification but that none of the drugs used affected calcium deposition.

Egg-shell silicotic calcification causing bronchoesophageal fistula.

A case of silicosis with egg-shell calcification of the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes causing broncholithiasis and esophagobronchial fistula is reported. The fistula was surgically closed. A review of the literature indicated that, heretofore, silicosis had not been described as a cause of broncholithiasis.

85Sr/ 45Ca discrimination by the active shell gland of the fowl

1. 1. A mixture of 85Sr and 45Ca was injected into the veins of laying hens and the 85Sr/ 45Ca ratio of plasma, shell gland mucosa and eggshell were measured. 2. 2. There is a discrimination against strontium in the body and the 85Sr/ 45Ca ratio of the plasma rises progressively. 3. 3. The discrimination against strontium is only 1·5 times that of calcium in the passage from plasma to eggshell. 4. 4. Calcium binding protein is present in the shell gland but its formation constant for calcium is about seven times that of strontium and it is not, therefore, considered to play a central part in the transfer of cations during eggshell calcification.

Eggshell pigments of the Araucano fowl.

1. 1. Eggshells of the Araucano fowl contain protoporphyrin, biliverdin IXa and its zinc chelate and traces of coproporphyrin I. 2. 2. These results and their significance in eggshell pigmentation and calcification are discussed.

Pneumoconiosis in women

In the Pottery industry, pneumoconiosis occurs in women as well as in men. The typical radiographic features of pulmonary mottling are seen in women, together with the occasional complications of massive fibrosis, Caplan's syndrome and egg-shell calcification of hilar glands. Tuberculosis and neoplasm may also supervene. Other causes of pulmonary mottling may be difficult to exclude radiologically, even with a history of industrial dust exposure. Miliary tuberculosis must always be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Calcified renal masses. A review of ten years experience at the Mayo Clinic.

Of 2,709 renal masses seen in a 10-year period, 111 contained roentgenographically visible calcium. This was found in 1 to 2% of the simple cysts and in 10% of renal-cell carcinomas. Calcium located non peripherally (within the mass) indicated a malignant lesion in 87% of cases. In another 8%, the masses were indistinguishable from renal-cell carcinoma on vascular studies, and this type of calcification required surgery; only 5% were benign cysts while peripheral eggshell calcification without calcium in the mass was usually associated with benign simple cysts, the risk of malignancy was still about 20%.

Effects of Increased Vitamin D3 on Calcium Retention and Egg Shell Calcification

THE minimum requirement for vitamin D3 by the laying hen has been established but the effect of increased amounts have been only partially investigated. The minimum requirement is stated as 500 International Chick Units (I.C.U.) per kg. of feed (NAS-NRC 1966). Murphy et al. (1936) fed up to 1,550 I.C.U. per kg. of feed using fish oil as a source of vitamin D3 and concluded that the requirement level for maximum egg production and satisfactory shell quality was 780 I.C.U. per kg. However, values for percent shell increased with increasing vitamin D3 up to the highest amount fed. Couch et al. (1947) fed up to 760 I.C.U. per kg. of feed and concluded that whereas the vitamin D3 requirement for maximum egg production for layers in their first year of production was between 380 and 760 I.C.U. per kg., the requirement for hens in their second year of production was…

Calcium transfer across isolated avian shell gland.

ARTICLESCalcium transfer across isolated avian shell glandG Ehrenspeck, H Schraer, and R SchraerG Ehrenspeck, H Schraer, and R SchraerPublished Online:01 Apr 1971https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplegacy.1971.220.4.967MoreSectionsPDF (1 MB)Download PDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesGet permissionsTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInWeChat Previous Back to Top Next Download PDF FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation Cited ByCalcium transport in strongly calcifying laying birds: Mechanisms and regulationComparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Vol. 152, No. 4Calcium homeostasis and vitamin D metabolism and expression in strongly calcifying laying birdsComparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Vol. 151, No. 4Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in eggshell gland mucosa as a mechanism for P,P'-DDE-induced eggshell thinning in birds—a comparison of ducks and domestic fowlsComparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Endocrinology, Vol. 106, No. 2Calcium Homeostasis in BirdsThinning of eggshells in birds by DDE: Mode of action on the eggshell glandComparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Comparative Pharmacology, Vol. 88, No. 1The Effect of Carbon Dioxide on the Unidirectional Transport of Calcium in the Isolated Shell GlandPoultry Science, Vol. 64, No. 7Essentiality of Vitamin D 3 and its Metabolites in Poultry Nutrition: A Review23 September 2019 | World's Poultry Science Journal, Vol. 41, No. 1Effects of suppression of eggshell calcification and of 1,25(OH)2D3 on Mg2+ Ca2+ and Mg2+HCO3- ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, carbonic anhydrase and CaBP levels—i. the laying hen uterusComparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, Vol. 78, No. 4Ca content of duck eggshell gland mucosa homogenate and the rate of Ca2+ binding to its subcellular fractions during and after the formation of the eggshellComparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry, Vol. 77, No. 4Comparison of p-ṕ-DDE and o-ṕ-DDE on Eggshell Thickness and Ca Binding Activity of Shell Gland in Ducks13 March 2009 | Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica, Vol. 47, No. 5Vitamin D and Its Clinical RelationshipsComparison of activities of several enzymes and protein constituents of oviducal and breast muscle of Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix JaponicaComparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry, Vol. 61, No. 3Active transport of ions across frog retinal pigment epitheliumExperimental Eye Research, Vol. 25, No. 3Ca2+Mg2+-activated ATPase in the shell gland of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica)Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry, Vol. 51, No. 1Biochemical Studies on the Shell Gland of Japanese Quail, Coturnix Coturnix JaponicaPoultry Science, Vol. 52, No. 4CALCIUM TRANSFER ACROSS THE AVIAN SHELL GLAND**These investigations were supported by research grants DE01764 and AM05970 from the U. S. Public Health Service. More from this issue > Volume 220Issue 4April 1971Pages 967-972 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1971 by American Physiological Societyhttps://doi.org/10.1152/ajplegacy.1971.220.4.967PubMed5551152History Published online 1 April 1971 Published in print 1 April 1971 Metrics

The formation of mineral and organic matrix of fowl cortical and medullary bone during shell calcification.

Synopsis 45Ca and [3H]‐lysine were injected into laying fowls up to 15 h after the start of shell calcification. The birds were killed 3 h later and the isotopes assayed in extracts of the medullary and cortical fractions of the tibias and femurs. It was found that medullary bone is extensively resorbed and resynthesised during egg shell calcification. It is maximally loaded with calcium about 8 h after the initiation of calcification. Cortical bone, on the other hand, is inert relative to medullary bone but may be resorbed during the early stages of shell calcification, probably providing some calcium for medullary synthesis. The absolute amounts of both types of bone were not found to vary during the egg‐laying cycle.

Tetracyclines and Egg Shell Calcification

Tetracyclines incorporate in bones and inhibit bone calcification in vivo and in vitro (Saxén, 1966). Oxytetracycline is deposited also in calcifying egg shells (Urist and Ibsen, 1963), which consist mainly of calcium carbonate as calcite crystals rather than apatite (Richardson, 1935). We aimed to study whether tetracycline or oxytetracycline interfers with egg shell calcification.Tetracycline or oxytetracycline (Pfizer, 100 mg./kg. of body weight) was injected intramusculary in regularly laying White Leghorn hens. A bright yellow fluorescence indicated the presence of the tetracyclines in the egg shells when the eggs were studied in UV-light (Fig. 1). Control eggs did not fluoresce.The concentration of oxytetracycline in the egg shell, albumen, and yolk was measured by UV-absorption spectrofluorometry (Hayes and DuBuy, 1964). Oxytetracycline was deposited mainly in the shell (0.182 ± 0.028 μg./gm., mean ± SD), and albumen (0.190 ± 0.030 μg./gm.) whereas the yolk contained only traces of oxytetracycline.The dry…

Decreased Feed Consumption and Increased Calcium Intake Associated with Pullet’s First Egg ,

INTRODUCTIONIT was shown many years ago (Halnan, 1925; Common, 1933) than an increase in skeletal storage of calcium by pullets begins two to three weeks before egg production commences. Common also showed that the amount of calcium stored varied with the level of dietary calcium. Tyler and Wilcox (1942) reported that calcium retention increases approximately two weeks prior to the onset of egg production. The increase in retention leads to the increased skeletal mineral which the pullet later uses as a calcium source (reservoir) for egg shell calcification (Taylor and Moore, 1958).However, it was not reported until recently (Foster, 1968; and Meyer, 1968) that a decrease in feed consumption occurred shortly before and after the first oviposition. Foster (1968) investigated the extent to which the drop in consumption was genetically controlled and what correlation existed between the decrease and such factors as age of first egg, body weight,…

Sex differences in the acid-base balance of adult and immature fowl

1. 1. There is a sex difference in the urinary pH, bicarbonate and ammonium ion content of male and non-laying female colostomized birds. The male bird produces an acid urine whereas the non-laying female produces an alkaline one. 2. 2. These differences are not due to differences in diet or to diurnal variations in time of sample collection. 3. 3. During eggshell formation the urine changes from pH 8·0 to about 6·0 due to a metabolic acidosis associated with eggshell formation. There are also changes in calcium, chloride and phosphate ion content of the urine during eggshell calcification. 4. 4. There is no difference in urine composition between immature birds and non-laying female adults. 5. 5. In the 1–2 weeks immediately before the onset of lay there is a rise in the blood bicarbonate values of the female but not the male bird. 6. 6. There is a slow fall in the urine pH of the cock after sexual maturity.

Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus and Variations in Plasma Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Relationship to Physical Characteristics of Egg Shells

THE alkaline phosphatase activity of the domestic fowl as related to dietary calcium has been the subject of a number of investigations. Common (1936) was the first to demonstrate a higher and more variable phosphatase activity in laying hens than in cocks and a still higher activity if the hens were on a low calcium diet. Since then many workers, including Hurwitz and Griminger (1961) and Dumanovsky (1962), have reported a decrease in the enzyme activity as the dietary calcium increased. Hurwitz and Griminger (1961) reported that 2.6% dietary calcium was the lowest calcium level which resulted in minimum alkaline phosphatase activity in hens.Although considerable research has been conducted on the relationship of plasma alkaline phosphatase and level of dietary calcium, few studies have been conducted on the activity of this enzyme in relation to egg shell calcification. The close relationship between skeletal metabolism and shell formation is well…

Lack of Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate on Shell Characteristics

Helbacka et al. (1963) observed a decline in blood pH and a thinning of egg shells when birds were exposed to an atmosphere containing 5% carbon dioxide. These workers concluded that calcification in the shell gland was dependent on blood pH which was lowered by respiratory acidosis caused by the high carbon-dioxide atmosphere.Frank and Burger (1965) reported that sodium bicarbonate in the drinking water of hens resulted in a 6.6% improvement in egg shell thickness. They concluded that the reported increase in egg shell calcification in birds exposed to high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide was not a result of changes in blood pH but, rather, a result of respiratory acidosis and its resultant effects upon the availability of bicarbonate ions in the shell gland.El-Bousky (1966) reported that, when birds were exposed to a medium range of temperatures, the feeding of sodium bicarbonate improved shell quality.Howes (1966) .

Eggshell calcifications in coal and metal miners

Eggshell calcifications in coal and metal miners

Egg-shell calcification: A sign of phaeochromocytoma

The authors report two patients, each with endocrine—secreting phaeochromocytoma, within which was situated a thin walled egg-shell calcification. Five similar cases have been collected from the literature and the authors suggest that egg-shell calcification is a valuable indication of the site and histology of the tumour in a patient with clinical or biochemical evidence of phaeochromocytoma.

Urinary excretion of citric acid in the domestic fowl

1. 1. The effect of oestrogen on the urinary excretion of citric acid in five colostomized hens was studied in an attempt to explain the reduction in the plasma level of citric acid induced by oestrogen. The effects of water diuresis, testosterone, hydrocortisone and fluoroacetate were also investigated. 2. 2. Urinary citric acid was less when egg-shell calcification was in progress than when shell formation was not occurring. 3. 3. In four out of five birds total output of citric acid in the urine was increased as a result of water diuresis. 4. 4. Plasma clearance of citric acid was increased by oestrogen. 5. 5. The level of plasma citrate was elevated as early as 2·5 hr after testosterone injection. 6. 6. Plasma and urine concentrations, plasma clearance and total urinary excretion of citric acid increased after a single injection of hydrocortisone. 7. 7. Plasma citric acid leves and urine flow rates were greatly increased 2·5 hr after an injection of fluoroacetate.

Mucopolysaccharides as a localized factor of egg-shell stability.

ELECTRON microscopic examination1,2 and chemical investigation3,4 have shown that the stability of the eggshell is dependent on the structure of the matrix. A voluminous, open structure of the matrix indicates a higher breaking strength, whereas a compact matrix shows a lesser breaking strength. Up to now, attempts to correlate the varying degrees of egg-shell calcification with the mucopolysaccharide content have been unsuccessful. These attempts were carried out on egg-shells that had been decalcified with EDTA5,6.