Gas exchange and energy metabolism of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) embryo

Eran Gefen, Amos Ar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We measured oxygen consumption (V̇O2) and carbon dioxide emission (V̇CO2) rates, air-cell gas partial pressures of oxygen (PAO2) and CO2 (PACO2), eggshell water vapour conductance and energy content of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg, 'true hatchling' and residual yolk, and calculated RQ and total oxygen consumption (V̇O2tot) for ostrich eggs incubated at 36.5°C and 25% relative humidity. The V̇O2 pattern showed a drop of approximately 5% before internal pipping. V̇O2 just prior to internal pipping agrees with allometric calculations. Despite the higher incubation temperature compared to other studies, and the resultant shorter incubation duration (42 days), V̇O2tot (91.7 l kg-1) was similar to a previously reported value. RQ values during the second half of incubation (approx. 0.68) were lower than expected for lipid catabolism. Prior to internal pipping, PAO2 and PACO2 were 98 and 48.3 torr (13.1 and 6.4 kPa), respectively. The growth pattern of the ostrich embryo is different from the typical precocial pattern, showing a time delay in the rapid growth phase. As a result, the lowered overall energy expenditure for tissue maintenance, as compared to other species, is reflected in the low yolk utilization and high residual yolk fraction of the whole hatchling dry mass. These could also result from the relatively short incubation period of the ostrich egg, thereby evading desiccation by excess water loss.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)689-699
Number of pages11
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Volume130
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Eggshell conductance
  • Embryonic development
  • Energy metabolism
  • Gas exchange
  • Incubation
  • Ostrich
  • Ratites

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gas exchange and energy metabolism of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) embryo'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this