Histological Characteristics of Leg Muscles of 56-Day Old Pheasants Hatched from Eggs with Different Eggshell Colour

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to examine the histological characteristics of leg muscles of pheasants hatched from eggs of a different colour. From muscle samples (M. biceps femoris) of 56-day old pheasants hatched from eggs of different colour (dark brown, light brown, brown/green, blue/green) histological preparations were made. Following parameters were examined: diameter of muscle cells, volume density of connective tissue in muscles and nucleo-cytoplasmatic ratio of muscle cells. Results showed that diameter of muscle cells was smaller in pheasants hatched from blue/green eggs compared to all other examinated groups. There were no differences in volume density of connective tissue in muscles among groups. Nucleo-cytoplasmatic ratio of muscle cells was higher in pheasants hatched from blue/green eggs compared to all other examinated groups. From obtained results it can be concluded that pheasants hatched from blue/green eggs had weaker muscle development than pheasants hatched from eggs of other eggshell colour. Cause of this could be related to structural differences of eggshells of various colour. This leads to weaker development of embryos and chicks hatched from blue/green eggs, which reflects on differences in development of leg muscles.

Keywords

• eggshell colour
• leg muscles
• pheasants