Development of the digestive tract in the ostrich (struthio camelus)

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate changes in the development of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in relation to body growth of growing ostriches. There was an 11-fold increase (P < 0.001) in body weight between 3 and 72 days of age. The relative (to body weight) weight of the proventriculus/gizzard, caeca and colon also increased (P < 0.001) with age. The relative weight of the small intestine peaked at 41 days of age and then tended to decline (P < 0.05) subsequently. The relative weight of the pancreas peaked at 27 days of age and remained fairly stable thereafter. The activities of chymotrypsin and lipase declined (P < 0.001) with age between 3 and 72 days. At 3 days of age, the protein content of the duodenal mucosal homogenate was higher (P < 0.001) than that of the jejunum or ileum, but at all subsequent periods the jejunal protein content was the highest. The protein content of the intestinal brush-border membrane was higher (P < 0.001) at the jejunum than at the duodenum or ileum. The specific activity of maltase declined (P < 0.001) with age in all three regions, most especially between 3 and 27 days of age. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) at 41 and 55 days of age was higher (P < 0.001) in the duodenum than in the jejunum or ileum. The activity of AP fluctuated with age in the duodenum but there was a more defined decline (P < 0.001) with age in the jejunum and ileum. The relative protein content of the liver increased (P < 0.001) with age, with two peaks at 27 and 55 days of age. Arginase activity was not detected in the liver of 3-day old chicks and was not significantly affected by age between 27 and 72 days of age. The pattern of development observed is similar to that in growing poultry. There is, however, a need for evaluation at closer intervals in early life as well as an in-depth assessment of the morphometry of the intestinal mucosa.

Nutrition of ostrich (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) breeder birds

“…The pattern of development of the gastrointestinal tract in ostriches is similar to that in other poultry (Iji et al . 2003).…”

Anatomy and physiology of the gastro‐intestinal tract and growth curves of the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

“…The ostrich lacks teeth and a crop, and the esophagus empties directly into the glandular stomach (proventriculus) without any distinct demarcation (Smith & Sales 1995). Iji et al . (2003) documented an 11‐fold increase ( P < 0.001) in bodyweight between 3 and 72 days of age.…”

“…The relative weight compared with the bodyweight of the proventriculus/gizzard, caeca and colon increased significantly with age. The relative weight of the small intestine peaked at 41 days old, from whence it declined (Iji et al . 2003).…”

Análise histológica do trato gastrintestinal de avestruzes jovens (Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758)

“…Pesquisas vêm sendo desenvolvidas em diversas áreas, como atestam os trabalhos de Bezuidenhout (1986) e de Iji et al (2003), em anatomia e fisiologia, respectivamente. Devido à escassez de investigações quanto aos aspectos histológicos do trato gastrintestinal, objetivou-se nesta pesquisa realizar um estudo mais detalhado da morfologia dos diferentes segmentos do tubo digestório.…”