Single and combined effects of parenteral vitamins D3, A and K3 administration on tibia morphometry, mineral density and ash content in aged Japanese quails.

A total number of 300 breeder Japanese quails at 40 weeks of age were used to investigate the single and interactive impacts of vitamins D3 (0 and 6300 IU), A (0 and 23100 IU) and K3 (0, 17 and 34 mg) on tibia mineralization in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement in a complete randomized block experiment design. Vitamin preparations were injected subcutaneously (SC) in the back of the neck of birds weekly. Proximal epiphysis and diaphysis diameter of the right tibia bone and its ash percentage were significantly superior in the vitamin D3 injected birds by 4.3, 4.9 and 9.3 percent, respectively (P < 0.05). Parenteral administration of 6300 IU vitamin D3 increased serum level of the same vitamin by 38.5 percent and decreased serum P level (by 12.7 Percent; P < 0.05) but not that of calcium (Ca) and albumin (ALB) levels as well as ALP and PTH activity (P > 0.05). Robustness index (RI) was significantly greater in the vitamin D3 treated birds compared with the corresponding control group (P < 0.05). Tibia ash content showed a moderate positive correlation with tibia length (r = 0.43; P < 0.01) and a negative moderate relation with Robustness index (P < 0.01). Serum PTH and ALK activity showed a weak and a moderate correlation coefficient with tibia ash percentage, respectively. No significant interaction was noticed among vitamins concerned in all features assessed (P > 0.05). It was concluded that extra nutritional administration of vitamin D3 via weekly SC injection, may impose promising effects on bone strength and mineralization in aged laying quails, evidenced by greater tibia ash percentage as well as superior proximal epiphyses and diaphysis diameter.