EMBRYONIC ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE PHOSPHODIESTERS RATIOS OBTAINED WITHIN-VIVO NUCLEAR-MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY (P-31) - A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR SELECTING LEANER BROILER-CHICKENS/

Phosphorus-containing compounds of 18-d-old embryos from two broiler c hicken lines, differing in body fat content, were measured using in vi vo P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Subsequently, t he same birds were slaughtered at 8 wk of age and the whole body was a nalyzed for body fat content. The birds of the fat line had lower (P=. 002) embryonic adenosine triphosphate (ATP):phosphodiester (PDE) ratio s, higher (P=.002) body fat content when adjusted to common BW, and hi gher (P=.047) dry matter content than the lean line. No differences (P >.05) were detected for BW between the two lines. Females of the two l ines had lower (P=.002) ATP:PDE ratios, lower (P=.001) BW, higher (P=. 003) adjusted fat contents, and higher (P=.003) dry matter content tha n the males. No interaction (P>.05) between sexes and lines was detect ed for any variables. Regression equations indicating a linear negativ e relationship (Y-body fat content = 369.05 - 407.27 X(ATP:PDE) + .129 5 X(BW), R(2) = .62 to .78; or Y-body fat % = 30.57 - 19.4 X(ATP:PDE), R(2) = .49 to .71) between embryonic ATP:PDE ratios and body fat cont ent were developed.