Studies of the Avian Shell Gland During Egg Formation. I. — The Extracellular Space of Laying Hens

Studies on the avian shell gland during egg formation: Aqueous and electrolytic composition of the mucosa1

“…The dried mucosa was then extracted with 10% acetic acid by shaking for 24 h. The acid extract was mildly centrifuged and the supernatant were used for determination of Na+, K+ and Cl~ and S5 SO|~ by methods previously described (Cunningham etal., 1971;Mongin and Carter, 1976).…”

“…Laying hens were prepared as described previously (Mongin and Carter, 1976). Groups of five birds were selected at various stages of egg formation from 2 h after oviposition, and then 4-hourly up to 22 h after oviposition, i.e.…”

“…Unfortunately, the major increase in water of the shell gland mucosa occurs during albumen plumping when the sulphate space in the chicken did not reach equilibrium (Mongin and Carter, 1976). The fact that the relationship found between intracellular volume and total water was the same throughout suggests that 35 SO|~ can be used as an extracellular marker for the shell gland.…”

Studies on the avian shell gland during egg formation: The effect of acetazolamide on the composition of the mucosa

“…The time of oviposition was recorded automatically and the 30 experimental hens were selected according to the stage of development of the forming egg. Exactly 70 min before the required physiological stage, they were injected intravenously with a single dose of Na 2 35 SO 4 (10 /iCi) to determine the extracellular space of the shell gland mucosa (Mongin and Carter, 1976). The birds were killed by an overdose of pentobarbital 2, 6, 10, 14, 18 or 22 h after the first or second egg of the clutch had been laid.…”