Locating the Site of Absorption of Xanthophylls in the Chicken by a Surgical Technique

Abstract

Increases in the level of blood xanthophylls and visual pigmentation of xanthophyll depleted cockerels were used to indirectly measure the absorption of xanthophylls. Surgical removal of either the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, or large intestine resulted in a slight but significant decrease in absorption of xanthophylls when compared to the sham operated chicks. With a similar comparison, ligation of the ceca resulted in a slight increase in pigmentation. Only the removal of that section of the jejunum-ileum affected by E. maxima resulted in chicks with no absorption when compared to chicks fed a diet free of xanthophylls. It was, therefore, concluded that most of the absorption of xanthophylls takes place in the area of the jejunum-ileum (the same section in which E. maxima infections occur), that a small amount of absorption, if any, takes place in the duodenum and large intestine, and that none takes place in the ceca.