Effect of Maternal Marginal Zinc Deficiency on Development, Redox Status, and Gene Expression Related to Oxidation and Apoptosis in an Avian Embryo Model

Figure 2

Effects of dietary Zn and age on (a) plasma Zn concentration and (b) erythrocytic 5-NT, (c) ALP, and (d) CuZnSOD activities of duck breeders at weeks 2, 4, and 6 during experimental period. All values are expressed as . Means with different letters (a and b) differ significantly () among dietary Zn groups at weeks 2, 4, and 6, respectively. Means with the letter (NS) showed no significant differences () among dietary Zn groups at weeks 2, 4, and 6, respectively. Mean represented the average value of 6 replicates (). MZD: maternal marginal Zn-deficient group (0 mg Zn/kg diet); MZA: maternal Zn-adequate group (60 mg Zn/kg diet); MZH: maternal Zn-high group (120 mg Zn/kg diet); CuZnSOD: copper-zinc superoxide dismutase; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; 5-NT: 5-nucleotidase; WK: week; NS: no significant differences.

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