Patterns of amino acid enzyme in domestic fowl breast and leg muscle during development

Abstract 1. 1. Activities of alanine and aspartate transaminases, glutamine synthetase, adenylate deaminase, glutamate and xanthine dehydrogenases and lactate dehydrogenase were measured in leg and breast muscles of developing chicks from day 10 in ovo to day 5 of free life, and compared with measurements for adult hens. 2. 2. Xanthine dehydrogenase activity was low in both muscles with adult levels attained on day 15 in ovo . 3. 3. Glutamine synthetase for chicks was maintained higher during development than for adults in both muscles. 4. 4. Minor differences were observed between both muscles in all enzymes tested up to day 18. 5. 5. With low embryonic values and important rises before hatching, the differences were initiated in the posthatching period. Important differences were observed between adult levels of activity. 6. 6. Leg muscle revealed higher enzyme values except for lactate dehydrogenase and indistinguishable levels for adenylate deaminase and xanthine dehydrogenase in both muscles. 7. 7. Alanine, instead of glutamine, is postulated as the main nitrogen transporter between muscle and liver in the domestic fowl.