Comparative study of hepatic VLDL secretion in vivo in the growing turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and chicken (Gallus domesticus).

ABSTRACT

Hepatic secretion of VLDL was compared in young turkeys and chickens (8 and 4 weeks of age, respectively) and older birds (11 and 8 weeks of age, respectively) reared together under the same nutritional conditions. VLDL, VLDL-TG and total TG secretion rates were higher in chickens than in turkeys. The cholesteryl ester content of turkey VLDL was higher than that of chicken. Differences in the fatty acid composition of the VLDL lipids were observed between the species the proportion of linoleic acid was greater in turkeys, whereas monounsaturated fatty acids were more abundant in chickens. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of a positive relationship between hepatic lipogenesis, delta-9-desaturation, VLDL secretion and fattening in turkeys and chickens.