Ontogenesis of transthyretin gene expression in chicken choroid plexus and liver

1. Chicken liver transthyretin cDNA hybridizes strongly with choroid plexus transthyretin mRNA from chickens, pigeons, quails and ducks.

2. In the chicken at hatching the choroid plexus has reached 70%, total brain 30%, and liver 5.8% of their organ masses in adults.

3. The proportion of transthyretin mRNA in total RNA is 0.45-times the adult value in the choroid plexus of the chicken at hatching.

4. In the liver at hatching, the proportion of transthyretin mRNA in total RNA is 1.1-times the value in adult chickens.

5. The pattern of maturation of transthyretin gene expression in chicken liver is comparable to that in precocial, but differs from that in altricial mammals.