[A preliminary study of developmental genetics of polymorphic serum esterase in domestic fowls]

Polymorphism of serum esterase was examined in 3 Super-Y 2000 broiler breeding populations differing in developmental stages (i.e. day 120, 180 and 300) using vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results indicated that both Es-1 and Es-2 loci exhibited polymorphism. Two to three polymorphic enzyme bands were detected at zone Es-1, and one band at zone Es-2 after electrophoresis. It was first discovered in this work that obvious developmental difference in products of Es-1 alleles existed with female birds, polymorphic bands of which disappeared after onset of lay. An individual tracing experiment conducted in a Super-Y 380 commercial layer population and an extensive experiment carried out in 2 ISA B380 parent CD stocks supported the previous finding. It could thus be inferred that phenotype "O" (no band at Es-1) discovered in hens was not genetically controlled by the recessive allele Es-1(0), which itself did not exist, but might be an evidence of gene regulation at laying period. For female birds, expression of Es-1 alleles was active before sexual maturity, and depressed after onset of lay, to meet their physiological need of high level of blood esterase for laying. It could also be inferred that this developmental difference in serum esterase polymorphism might be a common phenomenon in all avian species. If this hypothesis were true, the synthesis of esterase inside avian bodies could be a desirable model for investigating expression, and regulation of expression, of genes in avian populations.