The Regulation of Crop Emptying Rate in the Chicken: Effects of Administration Route of Medium Chain Triacylglycerol and Alkaline Treatment

The mechanism by which medium chain triacylglycerol (MCT) delayed the crop emptying rate in the chicken was investigated. In the first experiment, the effect of administration route was determined. After oral or intraperitoneal administration of saline, MCT or long chain triacylglycerol, the crop emptying rate was measured. Only oral administration of MCT delayed the crop emptying compared with other treatments. The influence of alkaline (NaHCO3) treatment on the delayed crop emptying induced by MCT was investigated in the second experiment to clarify the involvement of acidity. The alkaline treatment did not improve the crop emptying and the highest treatment of alkaline further delayed the crop emptying rate. It was suggested that the delayed crop emptying rate was induced only when MCT was administered orally, and it was not improved by alkaline treatment.