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Longitudinal Study of Adiposity in Chickens Selected for High or Low Abdominal Fat Content: Further Evidence of a Glucose-Insulin Imbalance in the Fat Line

Station de Recherches Avicoles, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 37380 Nouzilly, France

Selected fat (FL) or lean (LL) lines of chickens have been further studied. Total lipid and abdominal fat content and size of adipocytes isolated from the gizzard were significantly increased in both sexes of the fat line from 2 to 4 weeks of age onwards. The divergence in abdominal fat content was maximum at 9 weeks of age. Both in the fed and the fasted state, the plasma glucose level was lower in FL than in LL chickens, at hatching and shortly after. This was not, however, associated with higher plasma insulin levels in FL chickens. At 2 weeks of age, insulin content of the pancreas did not differ. From 5–8 weeks of age after ad libitum refeeding or forced-feeding following a fast, plasma glucose increased to similar levels in both lines but in contrast, plasma insulin levels were largely enhanced in FL chickens. At 17 weeks of age, glucose clearance was faster in FL chickens and associated with a slightly (although nonsignificant) higher insulin release. In eggs laid by FL hens, yolk weight was dispro-portionately increased and albumen glucose content was decreased. During the last third of embryonic development, plasma glucose levels were similar in both lines at the F₄ generation and in contrast lower in the FL embryos at the F₅ generation. The physiological situation of FL chickens appears therefore very similar to short-lived preobese state observed in mammals.

KEY WORDS: • obesity • plasma glucose • plasma insulin • adipocyte • genetic

Manuscript received 13 April 1982.