Three experiments were conducted to examine the possibility of the potential use of shochu distillery by-product (SDBP) as a feedstuff of broiler chickens. In experiment 1, 12-day-old broiler chicks were given diets containing 0, 0.7, 1.4 and 2.3% SDBP (wet), respectively. In experiment 2, 6-day-old broiler chicks were given diets containing 0.7% SDBP (wet), 1.4% wet supernatant of SDBP, 0.14% dried ether extract of SDBP and 0.28% ether extract residue, and in experiment 3, 12-day-old broiler chicks were given diet containing 0.05% ether extract of SDBP. The basal diet was made mainly from corn and isolated soybean protein, with 23% crude protein and 3, 200kcal ME per kg. In experiment 1, it was observed that body weight gain and feed intake were improved significantly (P<0.05) when the diet containing 0.7% wet SDBP was given. However, increasing the level of SDBP diminished the growth promotion. In experiment 2, body weight gain was improved, when the diet containing SDBP, supernatant of SDBP or ether extract of SDBP was given, but not when the residue was given. Feed conversion ratios were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in all the treatment groups than that of the control group. In experment 3, the results were consistent with those of experiment 2. The performance was significantly (P<0.05) increased when the diet containing ether extract of SDBP was given. The present results indicate that SDBP may contain ether soluble growth promoting factor for broiler chicken.

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Age-dependent changes in follicle-associated epithelium (FAE), size and density of lymphoid follicles were investigated in the bursa of Fabricius of devolping chicks (0 week old to 24 week old). The effects of testosterone (TES) and cyclophosphamide (CY) on the structures of the bursa were also studied in chicks. The number of FAE determined by uptake of carbon particles increased until 6 week old. The value, however, declined gradually at following ages. On the other hand, the number of lymphoid follicles in the bursa estimated by size and density of lymphoid follicles was considered to change only a little before 22 week old. The results suggest that the number of FAE in the bursa determined by endocytic activity does not necessarily imply the number of lymphoid follicles in the bursa. The cells which uptake carbon particles at the bursal surface disappeared after administration of large amount of TES, although the lymphoid follicles remained even after the administration of TES. The result suggests that apparent decrease of the number of FAE after 6 week old may be caused by the fall in endocytic activity of FAE. Administration of CY caused a transient damage in FAE of the bursa. The result supports the view that FAE differs from other epithelial components of the bursa.

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We reported an economical method for primary culture of chicken hepatocytes in serum-free medium using a usual air-incubator without CO₂ gas. The chicken hepatocytes obtained with collagenase perfusion were plated in L-15 medium (pH7.8 with 30mM Hepes-NaOH) containing 5% chicken or calf serum in a usual air-incubator at 37°C. At 3h of culture, the medium was changed to serum-free L-15 medium (pH7.8), and then medium exchange was done every day. The chicken hepatocytes adhered to a plate and were maintained for about 10 days in a little alkaline serum-free medium. The hepatocytes cultured for a long period synthesized serum albumin as one of hepatic specific functions, indicating that the differentiated hepatocytes can be maintained for a long time. These findings show that the culture system for chicken hepatocytes without using CO₂-incubator is useful for many kinds of experiments.

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Oviposition time of 419 hens from a White Leghorn population of two lines divergently selected for high and low yolk-albumen ratio was observed at four stages of egg production period for a duration of about 30 days in each stage. A total of 1, 498 records were used in the analyses of this study. The clutch traits for heritability estimation include; intra-clutch mean lag of oviposition time (LAG), mean delay of pause day between clutches (DELAY), the rate of internal laying (IP), the number of clutches (CN), the average length of clutches (CL), and the average size of clutches (CS). LAG and DELAY were estimated by the multiphasic model (LUC et al., 1995). Heritabilities of these clutch traits were estimated by a sire-dam nested model and intra-sire regression of daughter on dam.
Means of LAG were 1.04 hours and 1.32 hours for high and low lines, respectively. Corresponding heritability estimates were 0.41, 0.32, 0.62, and 0.55, 0.51, 0.62 for sire component and combined components of sire and dam, and intra-sire regression coefficient of daughter on dam, respectively. Heritability estimates of DELAY were not different from zero in both lines using the two methods. Medium and high heritability estimates of CN, CL and CS were found for both high and low lines in the two methods, except for regression estimates in the high line. Heritability estimates in the low line were higher than that in the high line for most traits, except for DELAY and IP.

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The distribution of androgen receptors in the uropygial glands of Japanese quails was studied by immunohistochemical techniques. Immunoreactions for androgen receptor were observed in the nucleus of basal and transitional cells of the secretory tubules, thereby suggesting that the activity of the uropygial gland is governed by androgens.

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Two experiments involving comparative slaughter procedures were conducted to see if the decrease in total energy retention (ER) resulted from the decreased food intake in growing chicks fed on a diet containing isoleucine less than its requirement. Ad libitum feeding a diet containing 3.0g of isoleucine/kg (50% deficiency) decreased food intake, body weight gain, apparent metabolizable energy (AME) intake, ER, and ratio of ER/AME intake. When both the control diet and the diet containing 3.0g isoleucine/kg were tube-fed at the high and low levels of food intake (218.5 and 74.8g/chick/14 days, respectively), body weight gain significantly lower in chicks on the low-isoleucine diet than in the control chicks at each level of intake. Energy retained as protein was significantly decreased by the low-isoleucine diet and reducing food intake. Energy retained as fat was affected by food intake but not by dietary isoleucine level. Energy retention was unaffected by dietary isoleucine level and depended on AME intake alone. No main effect of dietary isoleucine level on the ratio of ER/AME intake or heat increment by feeding was observed but significant interactions between isoleucine and food intake effects were detected in both the criteria. These results indicate that the decreased ER in chicks fed on the low-isoleucine diet was due mainly to the decreased food intake and not to the decreased efficiency of AME utilization.

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[in Japanese]

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