EARLY AND LATE QUANTITATIVE FEED RESTRICTION OF BROILERS - EFFECTS ONADIPOCYTES

1280 Ross 308 females were divided in four groups (ER, LR, SD and cont rol): ER and LR received a diet corresponding to their metabolic weigh t respectively from 7 to 21 days and from 21 to 35 days; the SD group was fed skip a day tone day fast and one day ad libitum) from 7 to 28 days; the control group Nas fed ad libitum. The abdominal fat Nas coll ected at 21, 28, 35 and 49 days and the adipocyte diameter, volume, we ight and number determined. At 21 days control adipocytes presented di ameters, volumes and weight significantly higher when compared to ER w hile from the 28(th) day on no significant differences among groups em erged. In both early restricted groups (ER and SD) cell numbers/bird d oubled a week after the feed restriction ceased. With ageing, the cell diameter increased (P < 0.01) and the cell number per mg of tissue de creased gradually (P < 0.05). Cell volumes and weights showed similar values at 21 and 28 days, that subsequently increased until 49 days. T he number of adipocytes per fat depot increased from day 21 to day 28, remained steady until day 35 to reach higher values at day 49. The ce llular multiplication slowed down during the restricted period and bec ame subsequently very intense, even after the fourth week of chicken's life.