Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Isolation of Preadipocytes from Broiler Chick Embryos
Published on: August 4, 2022
Changes in broiler chick tissue concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidants immediately post-hatch
Filiz Karadas1, Peter F Surai, Nicholas H C Sparks
1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Yüzüncü Yil, Turkiye. fkaradas@yyu.edu.tr
Insights
Antioxidant levels in newly hatched chicks change after hatching. Vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 concentrations decrease significantly in chick tissues within 36 hours post-hatch.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Chick viability is crucial and relies on antioxidant protection during development.
- Understanding antioxidant dynamics post-hatch informs chick health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the antioxidant capacity of newly hatched chicks.
- To determine the concentrations of key antioxidants in major chick tissues up to 36 hours post-hatch.
Main Methods:
- Quantified vitamin A, vitamin E, carotenoids, and coenzyme Q10 in chick tissues.
- Analyzed tissue samples from chicks held up to 36 hours post-incubation.
Main Results:
- Vitamin A and carotenoid levels remained stable.
- Vitamin E concentrations significantly decreased in liver, heart, brain, and leg muscle by 36 hours post-hatch.
- Coenzyme Q10 peaked at 18 hours post-hatch and substantially decreased by 36 hours in most tissues.
Conclusions:
- Antioxidant concentrations, particularly vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, exhibit significant, tissue-specific changes in chicks during the first 36 hours post-hatch.
- These findings highlight the dynamic nature of antioxidant status in early chick development.
Abstract:
The antioxidant protection of the chicken (Gallus gallus) embryo during incubation and early postnatal development plays an important role in chick viability. To assess the antioxidant capacity of the newly hatched chick, we determined the concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin E, carotenoids and coenzyme Q₁₀ in the major tissues of chicks which had been held in an incubator for up to 36 h post-hatch. Concentrations of total carotenoids and free retinol and retinol esters in the tissues did not differ significantly over the 36 h period post-hatch (p>0.05). In contrast concentrations of vitamin E (α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and α-tocotrienol and γ-tocotrienol) in various tissues (liver, heart, brain and leg muscle) decreased significantly in chicks that had been held in the incubator for 36 h when compared to younger chicks that were held for up to 18 h. Comparatively high concentrations of coenzyme Q₁₀ were detected in the yolk sac membrane, liver and heart, the concentrations being dependent on age of chicks, the highest value being recorded 18 h post-hatch. In most of the tissues studied, coenzyme Q₁₀ concentrations decreased substantially between 18 and 36 h post-hatch. This study demonstrated that there are tissue-specific changes in the concentrations of the major antioxidants (vitamin E and coenzyme Q₁₀) during the 36 h post-hatch.
