Immunological and compositional patterns of lipoproteins in chicken (Gallus domesticus) plasma.

Immunological and compositional patterns of plasma lipoproteins in the laying and nonlaying hen (Gallus domesticus) and rooster plasmas were compared. Hen plasma contained three immunologically distinct lipoproteins: very low density (CLDL) and low density (LDL); high density (HDL); and lipovitellin (LV). Rooster plasma contained VLDL and LDL; and HDL. Laying hen plasma in comparison to the other groups of birds contained a high content of VLDL and LV. The plasma lipoprotein pattern of nonlaying hens and roosters were similar except for the relatively high content of LDL and the presence of low levels of LV in nonlaying hen plasma. In general, triglyceride, phospholipid and cholesterol contents were similar for each lipoprotein class in laying hen, nonlaying hen and rooster plasma.