AVIAN CAROTENOIDS 



somewhat similar in action. " '''^ ^"'''' Ferrand and Bohren^* have 

 recently stated that inadequate intake of lutein reduces the " sperm 

 competetive ability " of some species of domestic fowl, although by 

 all chemical tests the spermatozoa from cocks fed on the lutein-free 

 diet were identical with those from cocks on the lutein-rich diet. 

 Hens were artificially inseminated with a mixture of spermatozoa 

 from the two groups of cocks. In the case of the New Hampshire and 

 the White Plymouth breed, a greater percentage of chicks which hatched 

 out were sired by the normal cocks ; in other words, the " sperm com- 

 petetive ability " was reduced on the lutein deficient diet. No such 

 reduction was observed with Barred Plymouth Rocks. 



In birds with nuptial display feathers, carotenoids undoubtedly 

 play a positive role which is possibly a true sexual function. The 

 nuptial display plumage of male bishop birds is rich in carotenoids, 

 whilst the post nuptial " henny " feathers are almost devoid of caro- 

 tenoids, w^hich are at that time stored in the body fat and to a certain 

 extent in the liver. The carotenoids can be readily mobilized into the 

 post nuptial plumage of males when they are injected with pregnant 

 mare's serum after removal of the henny plumage by plucking. The 

 functional nature of the stored carotenoids is emphasized by the fact 

 that they remain present in considerable amounts even after birds 

 have been on carotenoid-free diets for as long as three months. ^ '» ^ ^ 

 In hens carotenoids are mobilized into the blood by heavy doses of 

 oestrogens, ^ ^ and this is probably how the pigments are transferred 

 to the eggs w^hen the hens come into lay. 



It is worth noting an unconfirmed report which states that carotene 

 and lutein stimulate the dehydrogenase activity of pigeon breast 

 muscle. ^ ^ 



REFERENCES 



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13. Brown, W. L. (1938), J. biol. Chem., 122, 655. 



14. Zechmeister, L. (1934), Carotinoide, Berlin. Springer. 



15. KuHN, R., and Lederer, E. (1931), Hoppe-Seyl. Z., 197, 141. 



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267 



