Title: Effect of Decreased Feed Intake on Serum and Pancreatic α-Amylase of Broiler Chickens
Abstract:Removal of feed from 20-day-old broiler chicks for 24 hours caused serum and pancreatic alpha-amylase activities to increase almost twofold. A 24-hour feeding period following feed removal caused a re...Removal of feed from 20-day-old broiler chicks for 24 hours caused serum and pancreatic alpha-amylase activities to increase almost twofold. A 24-hour feeding period following feed removal caused a reduction in serum alpha-amylase to basal levels and a sixfold reduction in pancreatic alpha-amylase activity. Serum alpha-amylase levels remained elevated after long-term feed restriction in adult broilers compared with levels in full-fed controls. Reduction in feed intake in chicks caused by coccidial infections also resulted in increased serum alpha-amylase. In all cases, the degree of change in serum alpha-amylase corresponded inversely to feed intake. It is proposed that the pancreas synthesizes a specific quantity of alpha-amylase, which does not change even under conditions of extended underconsumption of feed. The rate of alpha-amylase secretion is determined, at least indirectly, by the rate of carbohydrate metabolism, and the remainder of the enzyme is stored in the pancreatic cells. A small percentage of the stored enzyme diffuses into the blood and thus directly reflects increased secretion or accumulation of alpha-amylase in the pancreas in response to conditions of carbohydrate utilization.Read More
Publication Year: 1984
Publication Date: 1984-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 12
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