Hereditary uricemia and articular gout in chickens

Ten generations of selection for uricemia and articular gout have led to the development of the HUA line which is characterized by a threefold increase in plasma level of uric acid when compared to the control LUA line, even when fed diets containing normal levels of protein. Articular gout results in many cases, especially among adult males fed a normal breeder diet. Restriction protein level of the diet delays or prevents the development of articular gout in mature males of the HUA line. The data suggest that relatively few genes are responsible for the defect in renal transport of uric acid which underlies the uricemia and gout. The association of lower levels of uric acid with dominant white plumage color suggests a linkage of a major recessive gene for the I gene. Ambient temperature, because of its effect on food consumption, influences the level of uric acid in blood plasma. The HUA line and its control (LUA line), both sex-linked dwarfs, would appear to provide an excellent animal model for the experimental study of gout in man.