Alimentary Absorption of Reducing Sugars by Embryos and Young Chicks.

A comparison of the alimentary absorption rates of 13 sugars in 14-day-old chicks indicated that D-galactose, D-glucose, D-xylose and D-fructose are selectively absorbed by this species. Furthermore, the ability to selectively absorb sugars seems to be fully developed in chicks just 3 days of age. In contrast to these older birds, embryos and 0-day-old chicks absorbed D-glucose and D-xylose at rates suggestive of a passive mode of absorption. These data have been interpreted as meaning that the selective absorptive capacity of the chick gut is not maximally developed until 1 to 3 days after hatching.