Starvation and refeeding in Japanese quail. I. Biochemical and molecular adjustments in blood

Abstract

Adult male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were starved for 3 and 5 days and then refed for the next 15 day, Blood samples were collected before and after the starvation period and also after 1,3,5,7 and 15 days of refeeding. Starvation for 3 and 5 days decreased (27 and 372 respectively) the total body weight and increased the blood haemoglobin levels to the tune of 16% and 17% over the controls. Serum acid phosphatase (9%), aspartate ami‐notransferase (27%), cholesterol (58%)and lipids (44%) increased while alkaline phosphatase (89%) and glucose (11%) decreased after 3 days of starvation. Serum alanine aminotransferase, proteins and free amino acids remained unaffected after 3 days of starvation. After 5 days of starvation, aspartate aminotransferase (23%) and glucose (35%) increase wile acid phosphatase (11%), alkaline phosphatase (38%), cholesterol (7%), lipids (30%), proteins (39%) and free amino acids (38%) decreased as compared to respective controls. No effect could be detected on alanine aminotransferase. After 15 days of refeeding most parameters studied were normalized but glucose, cholesterol and lipids still differed from the control values.

Key words:

• Starvation and refeeding
• Japanese quail
• Biochemical adjustments in blood

Notes

Present Address: Mariculture and Fisheries Department Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research P.O. Box 1638 Salmiya, 22017 Salmiya, Kuwait