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Ontogenetic study of enteric xanthine oxidase in the chick embryos: focus on the late embryogenesis

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Abstract

Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a member of xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) enzyme system that catalyses the terminal reactions of purine degradation to uric acid (UA). The synthesis of both antioxidant (i.e. UA) and numerous free radicals makes XO an important regulator of the cellular redox potential involved in normal foetal development. The aim of this study was to investigate ontogenetic changes of enteric XO activity and UA content during the last week of chick embryonic development. Fertilized eggs (n = 180) of layer-breeder (Bovans White) and broiler-breeder hens (Ross 308) were incubated at 37.7 °C and 60 % relative humidity. Enteric XO activity (n = 10 for each strain) was spectrophotometrically measured, based on the generation of UA using xanthine as substrate, at various incubation days namely D14, D16, D18, D20 and D21. Intestinal XO activity and UA content of both strains fluctuated and showed polynomial relationships with embryo age. The XO activity tended to be increased from D14 and reached its maximum level around D18 in both strains; however, its activity returned to minimal values at D21. Intestinal XO activity in broiler embryos was higher when compared to that of layer embryos at D18. The pattern of change in levels of intestinal UA were similar for the two strains with the highest UA levels being detected at D21. We have shown that the intestinal XO activity and UA content of chick embryos fluctuates during the last week of embryonic development.

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Acknowledgments

This paper emanates from Ph.D. thesis of second author, DN, in Avian Health and Diseases course submitted to the School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. This research was funded (grant No. 92-VE-736) by the Research Committee, School of Veterinary Medicine of Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Poultry Diseases Research Center, Avian Medicine Section, Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

    Keramat Asasi & Danial Naseri

  2. Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology 1214, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

    Isaac Karimi

  3. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Daneshgah Street, Tagh-e-Bostan, Kermanshah, Iran

    Isaac Karimi

Authors
  1. Keramat Asasi
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  2. Danial Naseri
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  3. Isaac Karimi
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Correspondence to Keramat Asasi.

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The protocol of this study has been reviewed and approved by the Animal Use Committee of Shiraz University that follows the recommendations stated in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the National Institutes of Health.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Asasi, K., Naseri, D. & Karimi, I. Ontogenetic study of enteric xanthine oxidase in the chick embryos: focus on the late embryogenesis. Comp Clin Pathol 25, 625–629 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-016-2241-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-016-2241-1

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