Abstract
Abstract
Plasma lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids; mg/dl) and the fecal excretion (mg/day) of neutral steroids and bile acids were studied in layers (L), hereditary nonlayer hens (NL), and roosters (R) fed a basal cholesterol-free grain diet ad libitum. Each group had significantly (P < 0.05) different levels of plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids when compared to the other groups. The highest lipid values were found in the NL group (cholesterol, 798 ± 89; triglycerides, 8914 ± 679; phopholipids, 2458 ± 112). There was no difference in the fecal excretion of neutral steroids between L and NL; however, fecal bile acid excretion by these two groups was significantly different (P < 0.05) (L, 13.1 ± 1.7 vs NL, 26.9 ± 3.4). Fecal neutral steroid excretion by R was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than that by either L or NL (L, 6.4 ± 1.3; NL, 6.0 ± 1.4; R, 14.4 ± 1.2). While fecal excretion of bile acids by R (36.1 ± 4.0) was also greater than that by either L or NL, only the difference between R and L was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Since, in the steady state, fecal bile acid excretion is equal to its synthesis, these results suggest that bile acid metabolism in these animals can be affected by both sex and egg-laying status.
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