Cloacal reflexes and uptake of fluorescein-labeled polystyrene beads in broiler chickens

Experiments were performed (1) to quantify reflex movements and volume uptake of physiological salt solution by the cloaca and (2) to evaluate the conditioned cloacal uptake of fluorescein-labeled polystyrene. In experiment 1, measurements were done on birds (n = 12) once a day at 3, 4, and 5 d of age and during 5 consecutive days at wk 3, 5, 7, and 9 of age. The reflexes and volume uptake after applying saline droplets were studied simultaneously during 30 s. The median number and range of reflexes per 30 s during the first week of age were 45 (28 to 54), at 3 wk 35 (18 to 52), at 5 wk 44 (27 to 60), at 7 wk 47 (32 to 61), and at 9 wk 44 (23 to 56). The median volume uptake and range in wk 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 were 0.10 (0.05 to 0.30), 0.25 (0.05 to 0.60), 0.58 (0.25 to 1.15), 1.05 (0.50 to 2.25), and 1.15 (0.30 to 3.05) mL per 30 s, increasing significantly with time. In experiment 2, a solution containing 10(7) polystyrene beads/mL was applied to the cloaca of broilers (3 aged 2 wk and 3 aged 9 wk) during 30 s. Most beads were found in the bursa of Fabricius. In the bursal lumen, a median of 10(6.43) beads/mL was found; the median number found in the follicular tissue was 5 (range 3 to 38) beads per tissue section. In the lumen content of ileum, cecum, and rectum of all birds together, it was 10(5.87), 0, and 10(6.32) beads/ ml, respectively. Polystyrene beads were never found intramuraly.