The accuracy of near-infrared (NIR) reflectance (R) spectroscopy for predicting whole-carcass percent fat and moisture in mature dwarf hens was established. Fat and moisture contents of ground samples from 99 hens were determined by standard fat extraction and oven-drying procedures. Homogenized samples from the same birds were also scanned in a NIR spectrophotometer (1.445 to 2.310 Mm), and the log 1/R was recorded. Calibration equations were generated with 49 randomly selected samples, and the coefficients of determination between chemical values for fat and moisture and reflectance readings were .92 and .94, respectively. The caliration equations were then used to predict fat and moisture values in the remaining 50 samples. Coefficients of determination between the predicted fat and moisture values and actual chemical values were .96 and .95, respectively. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy was found to be a rapid and effective method for determining percent body fat and moisture. (

The purpose of this study was to measure plasma corticosterone and thyroid hormone concentrations in broilers exposed to various photoschedules. Day-old male broilers were placed on litter floors in light-controlled chambers. Four chambers were randomly assigned to each of four light treatments: 1) 23 h light (L):1 h dark (D) from 1 to 56 d of age (designated extended, E); 2) 1L:3D from 1 to 56 d (intermittent, I); 3) 6L:18D from 1 to 14 d and 1L:3D from 15 to 56 d (brief-I, BI); and 4) 6L:18D from 1 to 14 d and 23L:1D from 15 to 56 d (brief-E, BE). Blood samples were collected 0, 4, and 20 h after lights-on (1200 h) at 13, 41, and 55 d of age. Corticosterone concentration did not differ among light treatments or collection times and was decreased at 41 d compared with 13 d (.65 vs 2.11 ng/mL). Triiodothyronine (T3) increased and thyroxine (T4) decreased with age. At 13 d, there were light treatment by sampling time interactions for T3 and T4. Plasma T3 was elevated in Treatments BI (3.11 ng/mL) and BE (3.40 ng/mL) compared with Treatments E (2.39 ng/mL) and I (2.30 ng/mL) at 0 h; the former two treatments showed decreased T3 concentrations at 4 and 20 h compared with 0 h. Plasma T4 showed reciprocal changes to T3. There were no differences in T3 or T4 for light treatments or sampling times at 41 and 55 d.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Spontaneously occurring benign uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) are the most common tumors of reproductive-age women. It is estimated that more than 70% of all women will develop uterine fibroids, and the presence of these tumors is a primary cause of hysterectomies. Research into the causes and treatment of uterine fibroids is hampered by a lack of reliable animal models for the disease. Leiomyomas that appear to be outwardly similar to human uterine fibroid tumors are known to occur on the oviducts of laying hens over 2 yr of age. The objective of this study was to characterize these tumors and compare them to human uterine fibroids to determine the suitability of the aging hen as a model system for the study of the disease. In this study, hens at 5 yr of age were examined for the presence of oviduct-associated fibroid tumors. Tumors were found attached to the internal surface of the oviduct, embedded in the oviduct wall, or attached to the exterior of the magnum and isthmus. Tumor and normal oviduct samples were frozen or fixed in formalin for histological analyses or immunohistochemistry for estrogen and progesterone receptors, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Bcl-2 protein expression. Human uterine fibroid samples were acquired and evaluated compared with hen oviduct fibroids. The results indicate that laying hen fibroid tumors are similar to human fibroid tumors with respect to estrogen and progesterone receptors, localized cellular proliferation, and expression of the Bcl-2 protein.

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