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Physiology of turkey embryos during pipping and hatching I. Hematology
Insights
Turkey embryo blood parameters change significantly during pipping and hatching. Erythrocyte counts and hemoglobin increase, while packed cell volume and mean corpuscular volume decrease, indicating developmental adaptations.
Area of Science:
- Avian physiology
- Embryonic development
- Hematology
Background:
- Turkey embryos experience high mortality during pipping and hatching.
- Understanding hematological changes is crucial for identifying developmental stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze key blood parameters in turkey embryos during pipping and hatching.
- To correlate hematological shifts with embryonic development and mortality periods.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from turkey embryos at pipping and hatching stages.
- Analysis included erythrocyte counts (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and MCHC.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in RBC and Hb concentrations were observed during pipping and hatching.
- PCV initially rose then declined, while MCV showed a consistent decline.
- MCH and MCHC decreased until pipping, then increased significantly through hatching.
Conclusions:
- Hematological parameters undergo dynamic changes in turkey embryos nearing hatch.
- These alterations reflect physiological adjustments to the transition from embryonic to post-hatch life.
- Monitoring these parameters could offer insights into embryo health and survival during critical developmental stages.
Abstract:
Blood samples were collected from turkey embryos during pipping and hatching, an age which corresponds to a time of elevated embryonic mortality. Samples were analyzed for erythrocyte counts (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). An increase in RBC was significant (P less than .05) during piping and hatching. The PCV increased significantly (P less than .01) until pipping occurred and then declined significantly through hatching. The Hb concentration also increased significantly (P less than .05) as pipping and hatching occurred. The MCV declined significantly as development proceeded. Both MCH and MCH declined significantly (P less than .05) until the onset of pipping at which time both increased significantly (P less than .05) through hatching.