engleski

The effect of fasting on the concentrations of total proteins and of uric acid as well as on aminotransferase activity in duckling blood plasma

The effect of a six-day fasting period on the variations of total protein and uric acid concentrations as well as on the activities of aspartate aminotransferase [aspartate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (AST) ; EC 2.6.1.1] and alanine aminotransferase [L-alanine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (ALT) ; EC 2.6.1.2] was investigated in Pekin Duck ducklings. At the age of 28 days, ducklings were divided into two groups: a normally fed control group (n = 28), and a group that was submitted to a six-day long fasting. Eight ducklings from the experimental group and seven ducklings belonging to the control group were sacrifised by decapitation after the 3rd, the 4th, the 5th, and the 6th day of fasting. The blood for analysis was sampled from the neck, simultaneously in the experimental and in the control group, heparin being used as the anticoagulant. In the obtained blood plasma, the concentrations of total proteins and of uric acid as well as the levels of AST and ALT activities were assessed spectrophotometrically. Over the entire trial period, the concentration of total proteins in the blood plasma of fasting ducklings was significantly lower than the control values: on day 3, P = 0.0239, and on days 4, 5, and 6, P = 0.0012. After the period of five days of the trial, a significantly higher (P = 0.018) value of uric acid concentration was measured in experimental ducklings than in controls, but at the same time, the lowest uric acid concentration in the entire trial period was found in the control group. In relation to the control group, a significantly lower AST activity was found after the 5th day of fasting (P = 0.0276), and a lower ALT activity after the 4th day of fasting (P = 0.0410). Low concentrations of total proteins over the entire trial period as well as reduced activities of the afore mentioned enzymes were probably a consequence of a reduced protein regeneration in the body due to the deficiency of amino acids from the gastro-intestinal tract during fasting.

fasting; ducklings; total proteins; uric acid; AST; ALT

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