Rapid, quantitative adipose conversion of chicken fibroblasts by high concentrations of chicken serum or plasma.

Rapid, quantitative adipose conversion of chicken fibroblasts occurs when these cells are cultured in undiluted commercial chicken serum or plasma. Fresh serum and plasma acquire this property after ageing.     

In vitro stimulation of chicken pituitary growth hormone and prolactin secretion by chicken hypothalamic extract

Summary The effect of an acid extract of chicken hypothalami on the in vitro secretion of prolactin and growth hormone (GH) by dispersed chicken pituitary cells has been investigated. Both prolactin and GH release were stimulated in a dose related manner in the presence of the hypothalamic extract (HE). Somatostatin had no effect on the basal or HE stimulated release of prolactin although it did inhibit the HE induced release of GH.     

In vitro stimulation of chicken pituitary growth hormone and prolactin secretion by chicken hypothalamic extract.

The effect of an acid extract of chicken hypothalami on the in vitro secretion of prolactin and growth hormone (GH) by dispersed chicken pituitary cells has been investigated. Both prolactin and GH release were stimulated in a dose related manner in the presence of the hypothalamic extract (HE). Somatostatin had no effect on the basal or HE stimulated release of prolactin although it did inhibit the HE induced release of GH.     

DNA methylation in chicken brain and liver

Adult chicken brain DNA is subject to a developmental alteration of methylation at HpaII sites flanking 4, 1, 0.8 and 0.7 kilobase sequences. This change is not evident in adult chicken liver DNA and 1-day-old chick brain and liver DNAs, suggesting tissue specificity and age-dependency in DNA methylation.     

DNA methylation in chicken brain and liver

Summary Adult chicken brain DNA is subject to a developmental alteration of methylation atHpaII sites flanking 4, 1, 0.8 and 0.7 kilobase sequences. This change is not evident in adult chicken liver DNA and 1-day-old chick brain and liver DNAs, suggesting tissue specificity and age-dependency in DNA methylation.     

Sensory functions of the chorda tympani nerve in the chicken

Summary The peripheral course of the chorda tympani nerve in the chicken was described and the area of the mouth it innervates was investigated by mechanical stimulation of the oral epithelium. Afferent neural activity recorded from the chorda tympani nerve showed that it relays information from oral chemoreceptors, mechanoreceptors, thermoreceptors and possibly nociceptors. The results indicate that the previously held ideas on the function of the chorda tympani nerve in the chicken are incorrect.     

Gene conversion in the chicken immunoglobulin locus: A paradigm of homologous recombination in higher eukaryotes

Gene conversion was first defined in yeast as a type of homologous recombination in which the donor sequence does not change. In chicken B cells, gene conversion builds the antigen receptor repertoire by introducing sequence diversity into the immunoglobulin genes. Immunoglobulin gene conversion continues at high frequency in an avian leukosis virus induced chicken B cell line. This cell line can be modified by homologous integration of transfected DNA constructs offering a model system for studying gene conversion in higher eukaryotes. In search for genes which might participate in chicken immunoglobulin gene conversion, we have identified chicken counterparts of the yeastRAD51, RAD52, andRAD54 genes. Disruption and overexpression of these genes in the chicken B cell line may clarify their role in gene conversion and gene targeting.     

The ontogeny ofa-foetoprotein in the chicken

Summary The ontogeny ofa-foetoprotein (AFP) has been studied in the chicken using polyacrylamide gel gradient electrophoresis and electroimmunoassay from 7 days of incubation until after hatching. The results are discussed in the light of previous on the ontogeny of AFP in mammals.     

Receptor-mediated transport and deposition of complement component C3 into developing chicken oocytes

Immunological resistance of the chick embryo is dependent upon IgG present in the yolk of the layed egg. Here we show that complement factor 3 (C3), a key component of the humoral complement system, is a yolk component of chicken eggs. C3 is transported into oocytes by LR8-mediated endocytosis. LR8 also binds and transports other major yolk components such as vitellogenin, very-low-density lipoprotein, and α₂-macroglobulin. Expression studies of LR8 during chicken development and oocyte maturation, in combination with studies on the uptake of individual yolk components, suggest the following model for oocyte maturation in the chicken: all oocytes present in the ovary contain high levels of LR8 mRNA and protein long before the onset of oocyte maturation. Selected oocytes gain access to yolk precursors, and LR8 binds, internalizes, and deposits the major yolk components in the ratio of their relative abundance in the accessible pool.Received 9 May 2005; received after revision 6 June 2005; accepted 13 June 2005     

The action of the cholecystokinin-A receptor antagonist,devazepide, on the digestive system of the chicken

The influence of the cholecystokinin (CCK)-A receptor antagonist, devazepide (DVZ), on the chicken digestive tract was investigated. The passage of food from the crops of birds treated with DVZ was not significantly different from that of the control. DVZ treatment did not inhibit the biliary flow stimulated by the CCK analogue, caerulein. Dispersed chicken pancreatic acini stimulated with CCK were treated with various concentrations of DVZ. At 10^–5 M, DVZ completely inhibited amylase release; this concentration was much higher than those reported to have similar effects in mammals. The results suggest that the action DVZ as a CCK antagonist in the chicken is very weak.     

Effect of early bursectomy on allocrafts survival in chicken

Summary Surgical bursectomy in chicken at 62 h of incubation produces a delay in skin allograft rejection, whereas later bursectomized chickens show normal rejection time. It is proposed that the Bursa of Fabricius in early stages of development influences the development of cellular immunity.The authors are indebted to Miss Nelly Pérez Jimeno for her invaluable technical assistance.     

A spontaneous chicken chimaera

Summary Among hybrids of the inbred lines, a chicken was found to be chimaeric in red blood cells and skin cells and to produce 3 types of sperm cells. This bird could have originated either from the fusion of 2 blastoderms or from the fertilization and fusion of the oocyte and the 2nd polar body.The authors wish to thank Professor Morten Simonsen. Institute for Experimental Immunology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, and Dr Vincenzo Miggiano, Basel Institute for Immunology, Basel for stimulating and critical discussion, and Professor Milan Haek, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, for his interest and advice.     

Tubuloreticular structures in chicken bursa Fabricii lymphocytes

Summary Tubuloreticular structures were observed in bursal lymphocytes of a 12-day-old male chicken. These structures are often observed in mammalian lymphocytes and endothelial cells. Their presence in bursal lymphocytes confirm their association with B-lymphocytes.We are grateful to Dr. J.L.F. Cristina Afonso for material support, to Mrs M. Lapão and J.P. Cristina Afonso for thier technical help, and to the Freixial Poultry Industry for providing the chickens.     

Comparison of transfer ribonucleic acid aminoacylation by various regions of chicken brain

Summary Aminoacylation of tRNA with valine was greater in the cerebrum of chicken than the cerebellum or optic lobes. This greater aminoacylation was due to both the activity of the cerebral valyl-tRNA synthetases and the accepting activity of the cerebral tRNA^val.     

Binding of indole-acetic acid to cytosol proteins of embryonic chicken liver

3H-Indole acetic acid bound to cytosol proteins of embryonic chicken liver in vitro to an average capacity of at least 20 pmoles/mg binding protein. The auxin-binding protein complexes could be resolved into 4 major zones by anion exchange chromatography; they sedimented at 3-7 S in sucrose density gradients, and were also heterogenous in agarose gel electrophoresis.     

Actinomycin-resistant antiviral activity associated with preparations containing chicken interferon.

Crude and purified preparations containing chicken interferon show a 2fold antiviral activity. One is inhibited by actinomycin and leads to total inhibition if interferon is added to cells before actinomycin, the other is insensitive to actinomycin and leads to partial inhibition if interferon is added simultaneously with or after actinomycin.     

Binding of indole-acetic acid to cytosol proteins of embryonic chicken liver

Summary ³H-Indole acetic acid bound to cytosol proteins of embryonic chicken liver in vitro to an average capacity of at least 20 pmoles/mg binding protein. The auxin-binding protein complexes could be resolved into 4 major zones by anion exchange chromatography; they sedimented at 3–7 S in sucrose density gradients, and were also heterogenous in agarose gel electrophoresis.     

Identification of chicken lysozyme <Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>2 and its expression in the intestine

Lysozyme is an important component of the innate immune system, protecting the gastrointestinal tract from infection. The aim of the present study was to determine if lysozyme is expressed in the chicken (Gallus gallus) intestine and to characterise the molecular forms expressed. Immunohistochemical staining localised lysozyme to epithelial cells of the villous epithelium along the length of the small intestine. There was no evidence for lysozyme expression in crypt epithelium and no evidence for Paneth cells. Immunoblots of chicken intestinal protein revealed three proteins: a 14-kDa band consistent with lysozyme c, and two additional bands of approximately 21 and 23 kDa, the latter consistent with lysozyme g. RT-PCR analyses confirmed that lysozyme c mRNA is expressed in 4-day, but not older chicken intestine and lysozyme g in 4- to 35-day chicken intestine. A novel chicken lysozyme g2 gene was identified by in silico analyses and mRNA for this lysozyme g2 was identified in the intestine from chickens of all ages. Chicken lysozyme g2 shows similarity with fish lysozyme g, including the absence of a signal peptide and cysteines involved in disulphide bond formation of the mammalian and bird lysozyme g proteins. Analyses using SecretomeP predict that chicken lysozyme g2 may be secreted by the non-classical secretory pathway. We conclude that lysozyme is expressed in the chicken small intestine by villous enterocytes. Lysozyme c, lysozyme g and g2 may fulfil complimentary roles in protecting the intestine.Received 4 August 2004; received after revision 1 September 2004; accepted 7 September 2004     

Actinomycin-resistant antiviral activity associated with preparations containing chicken interferon

Summary Crude and purified preparations containing chicken interferon show a 2fold antiviral activity. One is inhibited by actinomycin and leads to total inhibition if interferon is added to cells before actinomycin, the other is insensitive to actinomycin and leads to partial inhibition if interferon is added simultaneously with or after actinomycin.Work supported by the Swiss National Foundation, grant 3.399.70.The authors wish to thank Miss E. Browse, Miss U. Kohler and Mr U. Rohrer for excellent technical assistance.     

A new histamine metabolite,quantitatively important in chicken

Summary After i.v. injection of¹⁴C-histamine to chicken, we identified one of the histamine metabolites as N-acetylmethylhistamine in the urine. This new metabolite accounted for about 20% of the urinary or 14% of the administered radioactivity.This work was supported by the Agricultural Research Council of Norway (grant No. 14.202.01).Acknowledgment. I wish to thank J. Utne Skåre who performed all the mass-spectrographic work and A. Grande for making the colon fistula.