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In the present study, the amnion of turkey and chicken embryos were injected 3 d prior to hatch with different levels of vitamin E (VE). In Experiments 1 and 2, turkey embryos received 10, 20, and 30 IU of VE. In Experiment 3, broiler embryos received 10 IU VE. In all three experiments, sham-injected control embryos (0 IU VE) received 300 microL of saline. In Experiments 1 and 2 (turkey embryos), 20 and 30 IU of VE reduced (P < or = 0.05) percentage hatchability below that of controls. At hatch, poults exhibited a dose related increase (P < 0.05) in plasma VE levels. Mean BW gain up to 35 d and relative bursa of Fabricius and spleen weights were not different among treatment groups. When challenged at 7 d posthatch, total (P < 0.05) and IgM (P < 0.08) anti-SRBC antibodies were higher in 10 IU VE poults than in controls. Immunoglobulin G levels did not differ among the treatment groups. Poults in the 10 IU VE group had higher (P < 0.002) numbers of Sephadex-elicited inflammatory exudate cells, as well as a greater percentage of phagocytic macrophages (P < 0.0001). Additionally, the numbers of SRBC per phagocytic macrophage were greater (P < 0.001), than in control poults at 4 wk of age. In Experiment 3, chick embryos exposed to 10 IU VE, exhibited no differences in hatchability, BW gain, or bursal and splenic weights from the sham-exposed group. However, total and IgM antibody responses against SRBC were greater (P < 0.01) in the 10 IU VE group at 7 d postinjection. A secondary SRBC challenge given at 14 d after primary injection resulted in higher total (P < 0.07) and IgG (P < 0.04) antibody responses in the 10 IU VE chicks than in the controls. Similarly, broiler chicks (10 IU VE) had more Sephadex-elicited abdominal exudate cells (P < 0.07), and greater macrophage phagocytic potential (P < 0.0001). In ovo VE exposure (10 IU) also increased nitrite production (P < 0.04) by chick macrophages. The results from this study demonstrated an enhanced antibody and macrophage response and suggest that in ovo exposure with VE may improve posthatch poult and broiler quality.
Gore et al. (Tue,) studied this question.