The asymmetry of avian egg-shape: an adaptation for reproduction on dry land

The present study describes the biological meaning of the asymmetrical shape in avian reproduction using quail. During the incubation of eggs, water was gradually lost and the air chamber which appeared in between the inner and outer shell membranes at the blunt end expanded, so that the angle made by the long egg-axis and the horizontal line increased, presumably because the centre of gravity of the egg contents moved toward the sharp end. The increase in angle occurred in both fertile and infertile eggs, suggesting that this phenomenon occurs irrespective of fertility and is due to the asymmetrical shape. The increase in the volume of the air chamber resulted in an increase in the area of the inner shell membrane at the chamber to satisfy the amount of gas exchange needed by the developing embryo for better hatching. We isolated a 300-kDa protein from the inner shell membrane. It was produced by cells in the luminal epithelium of the oviductal isthmus and was found in the cortex of the fibres of shell membranes and a lining surrounding the air chamber. The lining comprised a medial layer between the inner and outer shell membranes in uterine eggs. The asymmetrical ellipsoid produces the air chamber at the blunt end of the avian egg during its sojourn in the oviductal isthmus, to maintain the blunt end up after oviposition and to raise that end during incubation in a dry environment, leading to high hatchability

Efeito da forma física da ração sobre a porosidade, espessura da casca, perda de água e eclodibilidade em ovos de perdiz (Rhynchotus rufescens) Effect of the physical form of diet on the eggshell porosity and thickness, water loss and hatchability of partridge (Rhynchotus rufescens) eggs

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar se a forma física da ração (farelada e peletizada) afeta a porosidade e espessura da casca, e porcentagem de perda de água e eclodibilidade de ovos de perdiz. Os ovos foram coletados logo após a postura e separados em diferentes intervalos de peso (35-45g, 46-50g, 51-55g, 56-60g e 61-70g), sendo 10 ovos/classe/ração. O número de poros das cascas foi avaliado nas regiões apical, equatorial e basal dos ovos. Utilizou-se um micrômetro digital para a mensuração da espessura das três regiões da casca dos ovos, a partir dos quais obteve-se a espessura média por ovo. Os ovos para avaliação da eclodibilidade e porcentagem de perda de água do ovo até a transferência para o nascedouro (16º dia) foram pesados, desinfectados, incubados (T=35,5&ordm;C e UR= 70%) e transferidos no 16&ordm; dia de incubação para o nascedouro, onde foram mantidos até a eclosão. As análises estatísticas empregadas foram: Análise de Variância e de Correlação, e teste de Tukey 5%. Os dados mostraram que, em perdizes, o número de poros na casca pode variar com a região da casca, peso do ovo e a forma física da ração, e que a ingestão de ração peletizada promove um aumento na espessura da casca dos ovos sem alterar a eclodibilidade e a porcentagem de perda de água dos mesmos durante a incubação.<br>The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the ingestion of meal and pelleted diets on eggshell porosity and thickness, water loss and hatchability percentages of partridge (Rhynchotus rufescens) eggs. The eggs (n=100) were divided into five different weight classes (1: 35-45 g, 2: 46-50 g, 3: 51-55 g, 4: 56-60 g, 5: 61-70 g). Parts from different regions (air space, equator and small end) of each eggshell were analized in order to count pore numbers. Eggshell thickness measurements were carried out after removal of the egg membranes. The eggs used in the analyses of the water loss and hatchability percentages were weighed, desinfected, and then incubated (T=35.5&ordm;C and RH=70%). On the 16th day of incubation, these eggs were transferred to a hatchery maintained at temperature and RH similar to those used in the incubator, where they were kept until hatching. The results showed that the mean number of eggshell pores changed among the three regions of the eggshell and egg weight classes, and also between the physical form of diets. Ingestion of pelleted diet increased eggshell thickness; however, hatchability and water loss percentages remained unchanged