  Background The morphological and biochemical impact of a short-period of
starvation on Japanese quail was investigated. Materials and methods Ten adult
male Japanese quail were divided into two groups; control fed and starved. The
control-fed group was offered food and water ad libitum and the starved group
was subjected to a short-period of food deprivation. After 2.5 days, the serum
was obtained and different parameters including the total protein, AST, ALT,
triglyceride, HDL, LDL, creatinine and urea were assessed. Gastrointestinal
tract, stomach and liver were excised and their masses were estimated. Paraffin
and resin embedded sections from the proventriculus, gizzard, liver, duodenum,
kidney and pancreas were examined with a light microscopy. Results Significant
decreases in the masses of body, gastrointestinal tract, stomach and liver of
the starved group were recorded. The liver and duodenum were the most affected
organs. The liver showed depletion of glycogen, vacuolation, hyperemia and
cellular infiltrations. Duodenal villi showed degenerative changes in lamina
epithelialis and cellular infiltrations in the lamina propria. Biochemical
analysis revealed a decreased level of total protein, AST and ALT, increased
cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL, and unchanged HDL, urea and creatinine by
starvation. Conclusion The current study described in details the effect of
short time starvation on quail organs. Time-point adaptive responses of male
quail to starvation and refeeding on quail organs will be investigated in
future studies.

Tissues and Organs