Page 23 - Think Grain Think Feed - April'25

www.benisonmedia.com ARTICLE Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 6 | April 2025 Fig 1. Structure of Avian liver (Source: Faeghehet al., 20219) www.benisonmedia.com

Think Grain Think Feed - Volume 11 | Issue 6 | April 2025

Holistic

Approaches

to Poultry Liver right lobe and a smaller left pathogens, supporting b. Carbohydrate

lobe, which is divided into immune function. The liver's metabolization: With
Health dorsal and ventral segments. vascularization, lobular pancreatic assistance,

structure, and integration
the liver maintains blood
The liver's dark brown color
often turns yellow after with digestive organs glucose homeostasis.
Management hatching due to high fat underpin its roles in High glucose levels
metabolism, detoxification,
trigger conversion to
content.
The liver is encapsulated by a and nutrient triglycerides and
synthesis—crucial for poultry glycogen (glycogenesis)
1
2
Dr. Nagesh Sonale , Dr. Monika M , Dr. Abhijit Abhijit 3 thin fibrous capsule and
health and productivity.
1 for storage, while low
Senior Technical Manager, Carus Laboratories Pvt Ltd., shows less distinct lobation
Important hepatic levels prompt
2 because of reduced
Scientist, ICAR-IARI, Barhi, Hazaribagh, JH, Dr. Nagesh Sonale
3 connective tissue. Hepatic functions glycogenolysis and
Asst. Professor, IVSAH, SOA, Bhubaneswar
lobules, the functional units a. Fat metabolization: The gluconeogenesis—
Introduction support yolk formation (Stevens, of liver, are hexagonal and liver is a multifunctional converting glycogen,
lactic acid, amino acids,
The liver is a vital organ in poultry, 2004). number up to 100,000 per organ essential for
lobe, each containing detoxification, waste and lipids into glucose
essential for metabolism, The liver also synthesizes elimination, nutrient
hepatocytes (about 80% of as needed (Akers et al.
detoxification, and nutrient approximately 11% of total body metabolism, and the
liver volume) and non- 2013)
synthesis—crucial for bird health and protein in birds, producing blood storage of minerals and
parenchymal cells. These c. Protein metabolization:
productivity in meat and egg proteins such as albumin, clotting vitamins in birds. It is a
lobules are organized around Protein metabolism is
production. Anatomically, it is a factors, and immunoglobulins—crucial primary site for
central veins and also significant, with
reddish-brown, bilobed organ located for maintaining osmotic balance, lipogenesis, producing
interconnected by sinusoids 11% of total bird protein
in the abdominal cavity. One of its blood coagulation, and immune more fat than adipose
for blood flow. (Scielo, 2019; synthesis occurring in
primary functions is detoxification, as defense. Additionally, the liver stores tissue. Fat is
MSD Veterinary Manual, the liver. Enterocytes
it filters toxins such as heavy metals, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), metabolized from de
2023). absorb amino acids,
pesticides, and metabolic wastes (e.g., vitamin B12, glycogen, iron, and novo synthesis, depot
ammonia) from the bloodstream copper, regulating nutrient availability The poultry liver receives stores, and dietary which are transported
(Biochem, 2023). during times of deficiency or increased oxygenated blood from the sources. Due to birds' via the portal vein to the
Kupffer cells in the liver phagocytize demand, such as egg-laying. hepatic artery and nutrient- poorly developed liver and then
distributed to tissues.
Maintaining liver health through rich blood from the portal intestinal lymphatic
pathogens and aged blood cells, vein, supporting efficient Surplus amino acids are
further aiding in detoxification. appropriate diet and environmental metabolism and system, dietary fatty catabolized; hepatocytes
Metabolically, the liver synthesizes and management is critical, as deficiencies detoxification. Bile ducts acids are transported deaminate them to
can lead to fatty liver syndrome and directly into the portal
processes carbohydrates, fats, and from both lobes connect to produce ammonia and
proteins necessary for growth and compromised immunity. bloodstream as very
the gallbladder and then to low-density lipoproteins keto acids. Ammonia,
reproduction. It releases glucose Anatomically, the poultry liver is
the duodenum, aiding fat (portomicrons), which toxic to birds, is
during fasting or increased energy located cranially in the abdominal
digestion. Histologically, mostly pass through the primarily converted to
demand via glycogenolysis and cavity, ventral and caudal to the heart, large, polyhedral liver before entering uric acid in the
gluconeogenesis. Lipogenesis, or the and closely associated with the hepatocytes with prominent circulation—predisposin liver—with only about
conversion of carbohydrates to fats, is proventriculus and gizzard. Unlike in nuclei and bile canaliculi g birds to hepatic fat 17% of uric acid
particularly active in laying hens due mammals, the avian liver consists of enable effective bile accumulation(Cherian et synthesized by the
to elevated estrogen levels, which two main lobes: a larger, undivided secretion. Kupffer cells filter al. 2002). kidney (Chin and
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