Electrophoretic Evaluation of Blood Sera Proteins of Adult Male Chickens

Abstract

S IX protein fractions have been reported to be present in the blood serum of the cock (McCully et al, 1959; McKinley et al., 1953;Heim and Schectman, 1954). These fractions were separated by zone electrophoresis on paper using aqueous veronal or borate buffer. The six protein zones were designated in order of decreasing mobility as: albumin, alpha-1-globulin, alpha-2-globulin, alpha-3globulin, beta globulin and gamma globulin. In addition to these six fractions. Brandt et al. (1951) found a fraction (pre-albumin) moving ahead of albumin in the sera of laying hens. This pre-albumin was apparently absent in the sera of males (Brandt et al., 1951;Heim and Schectman, 1954). In contrast to these findings, Kristjansson et al. (1963) using vertical starch gel electrophoresis found two protein fractions migrating in front of albumin in the sera of males. A third pre-albumin was only present in the sera of hens in production.The present study was conducted using polyacrylamide gel columns and disc electrophoresis to quantitatively evaluate the blood sera proteins of the adult male chicken.EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Blood samples (3 cc.) were taken on different days by needle from the brachial vein of each of 12 individual New Hampshire males. These males were approximately one and one-half years of age at the time of initial sampling. The blood samples were transferred to 15 cc. centrifuge tubes and held at 12 °C. for 45 minutes to permit TABLE 1.-Composition of stock solution for gel 1

Differences in electrophoresis patterns between plasma albumins of the cockatiel(Nymphicus hollandicus)and the chicken(Gallus gallus domesticus)

“…The variable presence of prealbumins in chicken serum and plasma is a recognized phenomenon. The absence of prealbumins in plasma/ serum has been related to high concentrations of total proteins by Harris & Sweeney (1969). The variable occurrence of prealbumins was also reported in laying hens by Kristjansson et al, (1963).…”