Institute of Animal Nutrition, Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China, Ministry of Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 611130.
Poult Sci. 2017 Sep 1;96(11):4103-4115. doi: 10.3382/ps/pex223.
The sternum as an important part of the skeleton and not only provides a crucial attachment site for the pectoral muscles and protects internal organs such as the heart and lungs for meat duck, but may also be considered as the primary ventilator in the avian respiratory system. Therefore, this study focuses on the sternum growth and mineralization kinetics of ducks from 35 d to 63 d of age. A total of 72 one-d-old males and 72 females were chosen and fed with the same diet until the age of 9 weeks. The sternum and serum were harvested at 35 d, 42 d, 49 d, 56d, and 63 d of feeding. Results showed that the sternum width rapidly grew from 35 d to 42 d and the value changed little after 42 d, while the keel length and the sternum depth did not significantly change until 49 d age. The sternum defatted weight and density increased assumed to "S" with ducks' age and their plateau in the 56 d. The sternum ash content, calcium (Ca), and phosphate (P) levels increased with duck age, then all three reached a plateau in 49 days. Similarly, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was higher in the ducks at both 35 and 42 days, followed by 49 days, and the value was lowered to a minimum on both days 56 and 63. Conversely, serum tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity substantially increased until 49 days irrespective of duck gender. Results indicate that the dimensions of the sternum were already at the maximum in 49-day-old ducks and the sternum of the ducks rapidly mineralized from 42 d to 49 d of age and achieved a plateau phase after 49-days resulting from the high activity of ALP at the sternum early mineralization.
胸骨作为骨骼的重要组成部分，不仅为胸肌提供了关键的附着部位，保护了内部器官如心脏和肺部，而且还可以被视为禽类呼吸系统的主要呼吸机。因此，本研究关注的是 35 至 63 日龄肉鸭胸骨的生长和矿化动力学。共选择了 72 只 1 日龄雄性和 72 只雌性，用相同的饮食喂养至 9 周龄。在 35、42、49、56 和 63 日龄时收获胸骨和血清。结果表明，胸骨宽度从 35 日龄迅速增长到 42 日龄，42 日龄后变化不大，而龙骨长度和胸骨深度直到 49 日龄才显著变化。胸骨脱脂重和密度随鸭龄呈“S”形增加，56 日龄达到平台期。胸骨灰分、钙（Ca）和磷（P）含量随鸭龄增加而增加，49 日龄达到平台期。同样，血清碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性在 35 日龄和 42 日龄的鸭中较高，然后在 49 日龄降低到最低，在 56 日龄和 63 日龄均降低到最低。相反，血清抗酒石酸酸性磷酸酶（TRAP）活性在 49 日龄之前一直增加，与鸭性别无关。结果表明，49 日龄时胸骨的尺寸已经达到最大值，42 日龄至 49 日龄时胸骨迅速矿化，并在 49 日龄后达到平台期，这是由于早期矿化时胸骨 ALP 活性高所致。
