| Nutritional and genetic adaptation of galliform birds: implications for hand-rearing and restocking | ||
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Blood samples (1–1.5 ml) were taken from the vena brachialis of grey partridge using needles (23 G) and syringes containing either 20.8 % EDTA (III) or heparin (V) as an anticoagulant. From the capercaillies, blood was drained into heparinised tubes after decapitation (I).
Blood parameters, which may reflect starvation or differences in the diet were chosen in works I and III (Halliwell 1981, Lewandowski et al. 1986). Haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hcr) were analysed from whole blood, glucose, triglycerides, total protein, uric acid, T3 and T4 from plasma using commercial kits.
Total protein was analysed to reveal protein degradation as a result of tannin in the diet (V). Effects of tannin on plasma amino acids were estimated by analysing concentrations of alanine, glycine, methionine, ornithine and proline, and on some other nitrogenous compounds by analysing aminoadipic acid, ammonia, urea and 3-methylhistidine concentrations. Total protein concentration was assayed with a commercial kit, and amino acids and nitrogen containing compounds with the ion-exchange chromatography method.