The pattern of duck sternal ossification and the changes of histological structure and gene expression therein.

ABSTRACT: As the largest single bone, avian sterna are very different from those of mammals in terms of morphology and functions. Moreover, years of artificial selection in poultry led to incomplete sternal ossification at slaughter age, which may cause diseases, sternal injury, and restriction to breast muscle growth. However, in living birds, studies have rarely described the ossification pattern and underlying mechanisms of the sterna. Here, we examined the pattern (timeline, ossification centers, ossification directions, weekly changes of different parts, quantified differences in ossification degree among sexes and parts) and developmental changes (histological structure, gene expression) of postnatal duck sternal ossification. Direct observation and alcian blue and alizarin red staining of who

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8193625 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature