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In Ovo Feeding of Commercial Broiler Eggs: An Accurate and Reproducible Method to Affect Muscle Development and Growth
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Maternal thyroid hormones enhance hatching success but decrease nestling body mass in the rock pigeon (Columba

Bin-Yan Hsu1, Cor Dijkstra1, Veerle M Darras2

  • 1Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.

General and Comparative Endocrinology
|October 30, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Maternal thyroid hormones (THs) in pigeon eggs enhance embryonic development and hatching success. Natural variations in yolk THs influence offspring phenotype and survival, impacting fitness.

Keywords:
BirdHatching asynchronyHatching successMaternal effectYolk testosteroneYolk thyroid hormone

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Avian Biology

Background:

  • Thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine [T3] and thyroxine [T4]) are crucial for vertebrate embryonic development.
  • Maternal THs are a known factor influencing offspring phenotype, but their specific effects within physiological ranges lack experimental investigation.
  • The potential fitness consequences of natural variations in maternal TH exposure remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To experimentally investigate the effects of yolk T3 and T4 manipulation on embryonic development and offspring phenotype in Rock Pigeons.
  • To examine potential interactions between yolk THs and testosterone levels on embryonic development.
  • To assess the impact of maternal THs on embryonic survival and potential fitness consequences.

Main Methods:

  • Experimentally elevated yolk T3 and T4 levels in Rock Pigeon eggs within the physiological range.
  • Utilized natural variation in yolk testosterone between clutch-mates to investigate hormone interactions.
  • Measured embryonic development, hatching success, body mass, tarsus length, and plasma hormone concentrations (T3, T4, testosterone) in offspring.

Main Results:

  • Elevated yolk TH levels significantly improved embryonic development and hatching success.
  • Yolk THs reduced offspring body mass post-hatching but did not affect tarsus length.
  • Offspring plasma T4 levels were altered by yolk THs (increased in females, decreased in males), correlating with metabolic rate.
  • No significant effects on plasma T3 or testosterone concentrations were observed; TH effects were independent of yolk testosterone levels.

Conclusions:

  • Natural variation in maternal yolk thyroid hormones significantly influences embryonic development and survival in Rock Pigeons.
  • Maternal THs can modify offspring phenotype, including body mass and metabolic rate, with sex-specific effects on T4 levels.
  • These findings highlight a key maternal effect pathway impacting offspring fitness within natural physiological variations.