20 Carotenoids in Aviculture
525
in other tissues including YSM and adipose tissue. On the other hand, in such peripheral tissues as heart and kidney the accumulation of carotenoids was proportional
to their concentration in the egg yolk, while in the other tissues (lung and muscle)
it was lower. It is also interesting that there was no discrimination between 2 major
carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, during their transfer to the peripheral tissues as
was shown for citranaxanthin, canthaxanthin and carotenoic acid earlier (Surai and
Speake 1998). For example, in the chick tissues from the M-group the proportions
of lutein were quite stable comprising 30–37%. Because lutein proportions in the
residual yolk and bile of the chicks from the M-group were substantially lower than
in the liver and peripheral tissues it seems likely that preferential absorption from
the yolk and delivery of this pigment to the developing tissues took place. Indeed,
the mechanisms of carotenoid absorption and distribution in the developing chickens
need further investigation. The liver can also serve as a carotenoid reserve during
the 1st days of post hatch development when the carotenoid concentration in this
tissue is progressively decreased (Surai et al. 1998). Therefore, as with vitamin E
(Surai 1999), the increased carotenoid concentration in the liver of the newly hatched
chick could be beneficial for maintaining its antioxidant system (Surai et al. 2016).
Whether the increased carotenoid status of newly hatched chicks from the parent
stock receiving the maize-based diet would be beneficial for chicken growth and
development needs further investigation.
Dietary carotenoids determine carotenoid concentration in the egg yolk. For
example, in our study, eggs from carotenoid-supplemented layers contained up to
22 times more carotenoids than controls (Karadas et al. 2005a). The concentration of carotenoids in the livers of chicks hatched from the enriched eggs was also
29-fold greater than in the control chicks. During embryonic development part of
accumulated egg yolk carotenoids are used for metabolic needs including antioxidant
defences (Surai 2002). Female quail fed diets supplemented with natural carotenoids
produced eggs with an increase in the yolk concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin,
lycopene and β-carotene (Karadas et al. 2006b). Interestingly, similar to lutein and
zeaxanthin, lycopene was shown also to be transferred from the feed to the egg yolk
and further to the liver of the developing embryo. Elevated carotenoid concentration
in the egg yolk and in the liver of newly hatched quail remains significantly increased
during the first week post hatch (Karadas et al. 2006a). In addition, retinyl oleate and
retinyl palmitate concentrations in egg yolk and the liver of day-old quail chick was
shown to be significantly increased as a result of carotenoid supplementation of the
maternal diet (Karadas et al. 2005a).
Carotenoids are characterised by health-promoting properties, including immune
system modulation (Moller et al. 2000). For example, dietary lutein supplementation reduced parameters of inflammation in the liver and spleen of laying-type
chicks (Meriwether et al. 2010). Carotenoids reserves in the body are limited (Surai
2002). During embryonic development carotenoids are shown to be actively transferred from egg yolk to the developing embryo with the chick liver at hatching
time achieving maximal carotenoid concentration (Surai et al. 1996). Similar to
vitamin E, carotenoid accumulation in the embryonic liver is considered to be an
adaptive mechanism to deal with hatch-related stress conditions and after hatching
525
in other tissues including YSM and adipose tissue. On the other hand, in such peripheral tissues as heart and kidney the accumulation of carotenoids was proportional
to their concentration in the egg yolk, while in the other tissues (lung and muscle)
it was lower. It is also interesting that there was no discrimination between 2 major
carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, during their transfer to the peripheral tissues as
was shown for citranaxanthin, canthaxanthin and carotenoic acid earlier (Surai and
Speake 1998). For example, in the chick tissues from the M-group the proportions
of lutein were quite stable comprising 30–37%. Because lutein proportions in the
residual yolk and bile of the chicks from the M-group were substantially lower than
in the liver and peripheral tissues it seems likely that preferential absorption from
the yolk and delivery of this pigment to the developing tissues took place. Indeed,
the mechanisms of carotenoid absorption and distribution in the developing chickens
need further investigation. The liver can also serve as a carotenoid reserve during
the 1st days of post hatch development when the carotenoid concentration in this
tissue is progressively decreased (Surai et al. 1998). Therefore, as with vitamin E
(Surai 1999), the increased carotenoid concentration in the liver of the newly hatched
chick could be beneficial for maintaining its antioxidant system (Surai et al. 2016).
Whether the increased carotenoid status of newly hatched chicks from the parent
stock receiving the maize-based diet would be beneficial for chicken growth and
development needs further investigation.
Dietary carotenoids determine carotenoid concentration in the egg yolk. For
example, in our study, eggs from carotenoid-supplemented layers contained up to
22 times more carotenoids than controls (Karadas et al. 2005a). The concentration of carotenoids in the livers of chicks hatched from the enriched eggs was also
29-fold greater than in the control chicks. During embryonic development part of
accumulated egg yolk carotenoids are used for metabolic needs including antioxidant
defences (Surai 2002). Female quail fed diets supplemented with natural carotenoids
produced eggs with an increase in the yolk concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin,
lycopene and β-carotene (Karadas et al. 2006b). Interestingly, similar to lutein and
zeaxanthin, lycopene was shown also to be transferred from the feed to the egg yolk
and further to the liver of the developing embryo. Elevated carotenoid concentration
in the egg yolk and in the liver of newly hatched quail remains significantly increased
during the first week post hatch (Karadas et al. 2006a). In addition, retinyl oleate and
retinyl palmitate concentrations in egg yolk and the liver of day-old quail chick was
shown to be significantly increased as a result of carotenoid supplementation of the
maternal diet (Karadas et al. 2005a).
Carotenoids are characterised by health-promoting properties, including immune
system modulation (Moller et al. 2000). For example, dietary lutein supplementation reduced parameters of inflammation in the liver and spleen of laying-type
chicks (Meriwether et al. 2010). Carotenoids reserves in the body are limited (Surai
2002). During embryonic development carotenoids are shown to be actively transferred from egg yolk to the developing embryo with the chick liver at hatching
time achieving maximal carotenoid concentration (Surai et al. 1996). Similar to
vitamin E, carotenoid accumulation in the embryonic liver is considered to be an
adaptive mechanism to deal with hatch-related stress conditions and after hatching