EFFECT OF AGE AND SEX ONTHE BLOOD SUGAR PROFILE IN JAPANESE QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix japonicd)

Avian carbohydrate metabolism differs in several respects from that of mammals, some of which include the bird's relative insensitivity towards high doses of insulin and the ability of birds to maintain their blood glucose, at a higher level, where the value is normally almost double than that in most mammals, even during prolonged starvation. Eventhough, informations are available on the blood glucose level of various species of birds, data on blood glucose level of Japanese quail are meagre. However, a few studies concerning with the blood glucose level of Japanese quail were recorded by Shibata and Watanabe (1981) and Poyraz (1988). The present study was performed in order to investigate the influence of age and sex on the blood glucose level of Japanese quail.