Liver- and muscle amino-acid concentrations during the development of domestic fowl

Abstract

The concentrations of free amino acids in liver, leg muscle and wing muscle of developing domestic fowl chicks were measured and compared with those of adults.

1.- Leg and breast muscles showed a remarkably parallel pattern of change in free-amino-acid concentrations during development up to day 5 after hatching, in agreement with their lack of differentiation up to day 5.

2.- Liver free-amino-acid concentration pattern with the development were very similar to those of the muscles, in significant difference with Mammals.

3.- Adult free tissue amino acids were lower than those of developing chicks.

4.- Most changes in amino-acid concentration in chick tissues were observed around hatching, and have been tentatively attributed to changes in diet.

5.- Combined amino acids changed very little during the period studied in muscles and liver. Taurine constituted a very big share of total amino acids.