Concentrations of selected cations in turkey serum and oviductal mucosae

Concentrations of selected cations in serum and oviductal mucosae were determined in samples taken immediately after laying and at 8 to 12 hr and 18 to 22 hr postoviposition in turkey hens at 2 and 17 weeks of egg production. Serum zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) at 2 weeks of egg production and copper (Cu) and sodium (Na) at 17 weeks of egg production were influenced by time postoviposition. In general, serum Cu declined and Zn, Ca, and Mg concentrations increased between the 2nd and 17th week of egg production. Cation concentrations varied between the infundibular, uterine, uterovaginal junction (UVJ), and vaginal mucosae but showed less variation within individual segments over the postoviposition times examined. Pooled mean concentrations of cations within each segment revealed that the UVJ mucosa, when compared to the remaining segments, was higher in Zn, Cu, Fe, and Na in hens 2 weeks after egg production and in Zn after 17 weeks of egg production. The relatively high concentration of Zn in the UVJ mucosa may be related to the sperm storage capacity of this region.