[The effect of a protein-free diet on the submicroscopic structure of striated muscles in Japanese quail]

The effect of protein-free diet on the striated muscle m. gastrocnemius of Japanese quail was studied in three test groups and the data were compared with a control group. Each test group included three birds. The first group was fed protein-free diet for three days, the second group for six days and the third for nine days. Egg albumin was absent in the protein-free diet. The remaining components (maize starch, germ oil, cellulose, mineral and vitamin premix) were represented by the same percentage in both diets. In the second group of birds given protein-free diet for six days, doubled Z-lines were found. No such alterations were found in the remaining groups in comparison with the controls. Since doubled Z-lines occurred only in the group given the protein-free diet for six days, further study is needed to provide evidence indicating that the doubling of Z-line is due to this factor.