EFFECTS OF ORAL ETHANOL ON SERUM-LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL IN JUVENILE MEAT-TYPE CHICKENS

The effects of moderate, short-term ethanol (EtOH) intake on various p hysiological parameters in growth-selected, juvenile, meat-type chicke ns were determined. Ethanol (20%) was administered orally at 2 mi per kg of body weight three times daily between 21 and 28 days of age. Fee d consumption, body weight, rectal temperature, relative weights of th e thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, and liver, serum triglycerides, choleste rol, glucose, and high-density, low-density, and very low-density lipo protein cholesterol concentrations were determined. Serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, and relative liver wei ght peaked across all treatments at 23 days of age. Males exhibited hi gher cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentratio ns than females. Ethanol did not affect feed consumption, body weight, or relative liver weight, but decreased elevated concentrations of se rum low- and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride s at 23 days of age. Short-term, oral administration of EtOH may be us ed to suppress elevated concentrations of low- and very low-density li poprotein cholesterol and triglycerides in male and female growth-sele cted, juvenile, meat-type chickens without gross changes in the liver or in growth.