Early Development of Digestive Organs, Intestinal Microvilli Digestive Enzymes, and Hepatic Antioxidant Enzymes after Hatching in Korean Native Chicks

The study was conducted to examine age-related development of digestive organs, intestinal microvilli hydrolase, and hepatic antioxidant enzyme in Korean native chicks (KNC) aged from 0-d to 28-d of post-hatching. Body weight did not significantly increase from 0-d to 3-d-old, but after that remarkably increased from 3-d to 28-d-old (P<0.05). The relative weight (g/100 g of BW) of the proventriculus, gizzard, and liver was significantly higher at 3- and 7-d-old chicks than that of the other ages. The relative weight of the intestine, mucosal tissues, and pancreas was markedly developed at the ages of 3-, 14-, and (or) 21-d-old chicks (P<0.05). In the small intestine, the specific activities of maltase and sucrase were significantly higher at 14-d-old compared with the other ages (P<0.05). Leucine aminopeptidase activity showed a constant level from 0- to 28-d-old without significance. The specific activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher at 0-d-old compared with the other ages (P<0.05). In the liver, the specific activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase were shown to be lowest at 0-d-old, but they continued to increase as the age increased. The lipid peroxidation was significantly high at the age of 21-d (P<0.05), after that its level decreased at 28-d old. In conclusion, the KNC rapidly developed digestive organs and intestinal microvilli hydrolase activity from 3- to 14-d-old after hatching. Hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity continued to increase as the age increased after hatching, resulting in 28-d-old chicks showing the highest antioxidant enzyme activity in the KNC.