The relationship between the levels of α-tocopherol and carotenoids in the maternal feed, yolk and neonatal tissues: comparison between the chicken, turkey, duck and goose

Abstract

The relationship between the levels of the lipid‐soluble antioxidants, α‐tocopherol and carotenoids, in the parental diet, the yolk and the neonatal tissues was investigated for four avian species of commercial importance. The chicken displayed a much greater efficiency in incorporating α‐tocopherol from the parental diet into the yolk in comparison with the turkey, duck and goose. Thus, in spite of similar concentrations in the respective diets, the resultant concentration of α‐tocopherol in the yolk of the chicken egg was four to five times greater than observed for the other three species. A similar but less dramatic picture was observed for carotenoids: identical dietary provision of carotenoids in the maternal feeds resulted in the chicken eggs displaying between 1·4 and 1·9 times the concentration in the yolk than was observed for the other three species. These differences between the species regarding the levels of α‐tocopherol and carotenoids in the yolk were closely reflected in the subsequent concentrations of these components in the livers of the hatchlings. Thus, the concentrations of α‐tocopherol and carotenoids in the liver of the day‐old chicken were respectively about three and two times greater than in the livers of the other three species. Although the water‐soluble antioxidant, ascorbic acid, is synthesised by the embryo as opposed to provision via the maternal diet and the yolk, the concentration of this component in the brain of the day‐old chicken was approximately 50% greater than in the brains of the other three species. Thus, it is possible that the antioxidant capacity of the developing turkey, duck and goose may be compromised under conditions of commercial production. All four species displayed a rapid depletion of α‐tocopherol and carotenoids from the livers during the first 9 days after hatching. © 1998 SCI.

NATURAL ANTIOXIDANTS IN HENS' EMBRYOGENESIS AND ANTISTRESS DEFENCE IN POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT (review)

“…In a hatchling this is mainly provided by high tissue levels of natural antioxidants, especially vitamin E (27,29), and sometimes (in wild birds), carotenoids (30)(31)(32)(33)(34). In the first 10 days after hatching, the levels of vitamin E and carotenoids in the liver tissue reduce by 20 times; this occurs in chickens, as well as in turkeys, ducks, and geese (23). Such reduce is compensated by significant increase of GSH-Px activity in the liver (26).…”

“…So, a broad spectrum of antioxidant defenses is enabled in tissues of a hatchling -natural antioxidants (vitamin E, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, coenzyme Q, etc.) (19,20,(23)(24)(25), enzymes (SOD-reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase) (24,26), and mineral co-factors (selenium, zinc, manganese and iron) (19). Vitamin E, carotenoids, selenium, copper, manganese, and iron are provided by maternal contribution to an egg and a future chick, while other substances are synthesized in own tissues.…”

“…Eggs of many wild bird species have a relatively high content of this vitamin (13,30,39). Accumulation of vitamin E in eggs is species-specific: feeding an equal dietary dose of vitamin E contributes to the higher level in chicken egg compared with eggs of turkeys, geese, or ducks (23).…”

“…In the following 2 weeks after hatching this reserve will gradually and significantly (10-20 times) reduce due to metabolic demand (23).…”

“…Like vitamin E, this tissue reserve is necessary for adaptation to stress associated with hatching (20,33,34), and after it the liver content of carotenoids rapidly declines (23). Hatchlings from carotenoid-deficient eggs have less ability to utilize carotenoids from feed than chicks from the eggs with rich content of carotenoids (47,48).…”