Breed- and gender-dependent differences in eye growth and form deprivation responses in chick

This study investigated the influences of breed and gender on the response to form deprivation and subsequent changes (recovery) when normal vision was restored. Two breeds of chickens, the White Leghorn and broiler cross, were compared, as well as male and female chicks for the White Leghorn breed. Normal eye growth was faster in the more rapidly growing broiler chicks; gender-differences were not as great as breed-differences although male White Leghorns ultimately became heavier and showed slightly greater normal eye growth than females. While both breeds showed high myopia and axial elongation in response to form deprivation, they differed significantly in the magnitude of their response, with White Leghorns showing more myopia and greater axial elongation and also recovering more slowly. Responses to form deprivation were similar for both genders, with respect to both the amount of myopia and axial elongation produced, although the female chicks recovered faster. Together these observations indicate that, although the overall pattern of response of form deprivation is consistent across both breed and gender, related quantitative differences in responses can be expected and need to be taken into account in experimental design and cross-study comparisons.