Influence of Dietary a-Lipoic Acid on Ovary Development in Japanese Quail

摘要

This study was performed to investigate the effects of dietary a-lipoic acid on ovary growth and ovarian follicle growth at sexual maturity (onset of lay) in Japanese quail. The experimental diets were prepared to contain 0%, 0.15% and 0.30% a-lipoicacid in basal diet (CP 24%, ME 2900 kcal/kg). The birds were fed on the experimental diets from 21days of age to age at sexual maturity. Age at sexual maturity significantly delayed with increased the amounts of dietary a-lipoic acid. At sexual maturity,the weight of ovary and oviduct was not significantly different between the treatment groups. The first egg weight did not vary between the treatment groups. No differences were observed in ovarian follicle weights at sexual maturity due to the amountsof dietary a-lipoic acid in each position of follicle in the hierachy from the largest follicle to fifth largest follicle. These results indicate that dietary a-lipoic acid supplementation may depress ovarian follicle growth during the process of sexualmaturity but may not influence the follicle growth at sexual maturity in Japanese quail.