Calcium-binding proteins in serum: quantitative differences between thick and thin shell lines of chickens

Calcium binding by two proteins, vitellogenin and albumin, was measured in serum of a line of hens producing thick (THK) and a line of hens producing thin shells (THN) as well as a line of commercial hens using gel filtration in 45calcium buffer. Vitellogenin was quantitated in serum of THK and THN using a radial immunodiffusion test. Levels of serum calcium were measured and related to the above mentioned parameters. The binding of vitellogenin was significantly greater in 13 THK than 13 THN (672 vs. 508 cpm/ml X 10(-3), but binding by albumin was not significantly different between the two lines (386 vs. 344 cpm/ml X 10(-3). Binding in 11 commercial hens was similar to that for THN. The THK had significantly greater levels of diffusible, non-diffusible, and total serum calcium than THN. Significant positive correlations between total serum calcium and vitellogenin binding were found in THK (.77) and THN (.81) as well as in the commercial hens (.64). Like vitellogenin binding, levels of vitellogenin were significantly greater in THK than THN (4.0 vs. 1.8 mg/ml). These results suggest that in addition to having more diffusible and non-diffusible serum calcium, THK have more calcium binding and more vitellogenin to perform the binding function than THN.