In chick embryos, liver histogenesis begins with an outgrowth of the foregut endoderm (hepatic diverticulum). To date, no studies have examined liver development during embryogenesis in turkeys; therefore, this research was undertaken to address this gap.
Fifty fertilized turkey eggs were placed in an incubator under controlled conditions to allow normal embryonic development. Embryos were sampled on days 7, 10, 15, 18, 21, 24, and 27 of incubation, with five eggs collected at each time point. The sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) for general structural observation. Histogenesis parameters were quantitatively evaluated. For functional analysis, the activities of liver specific enzymes namely ALT, AST, ALP, LDH and Rhodanese were measured in tissue homogenates using commercial colorimetric kits
By embryonic day 10, the first recognizable hepatic structures had emerged, including hepatocyte cords, sinusoidal endothelial cells, and the central vein. By day 15, the major hepatic cell populations, including Kupffer cells, were clearly distinguishable, and the liver exhibited a more mature tissue architecture.
Biochemical analysis of liver homogenates demonstrated dynamic changes in enzyme activities during late embryogenesis (days 18–27). The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and rhodanese increased progressively throughout this period. In contrast, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity declined consistently, whereas alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was lowest on day 18 and reached its maximum on day 24. These temporal changes likely reflect alterations in metabolic demands, energy utilization, and substrate availability accompanying hepatic maturation and the progressive acquisition of physiological functions by the embryonic liver.