Reference serum protein and lipoprotein fractions of ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Turkey : research communication

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine for reference purposes the values of serum albumin, a₁-globulin, a₂-globulin, b-globulin, g-globulin, and a-lipoprotein (high density lipoprotein), pre-b-lipoprotein (very low density lipoprotein) and b-lipoprotein (low density lipoprotein) fractions of normal ostriches (Struthio camelus) in Turkey. Five male and five female ostriches, 18 months old, were used. All the ostriches were fed on a diet that contained 15.14 % crude protein and 2 950 Kcal/kg of metabolizable energy. The serum protein and lipoprotein fractions were measured using agarose gel electrophoresis. The fractions were found to be 60.96 % albumin, 0.24% a₁-globulin, 15.91 % a₂-globulin, 13.34 % b-globulin, 9.55 % g-globulin, 53.77 % HDL, 0.60 % VLDL and 48.09 % LDL.