The State and Partition of the Calcium and Inorganic Phosphorus in the Serum of the Fowl. Effect of Growth and Ovulation

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE partition of the calcium and inorganic phosphorus in the blood stream of the fowl during ovulation has recently been the subject of extensive experimental investigation (Laskowski, 1935; Benjamin and Hess, 1933; Correll and Hughes, 1933; Heller and Thompson, 1934). Little data, however, are available on the changes and partition of these elements in the blood of the fowl during growth. This, together with the fact that the nature of the calcium compounds which produce the great augmentation in the serum calcium level of the hen during ovulation has not been definitely established by previous investigators, led us to undertake the present study. It is generally agreed that the augmented level of serum calcium during ovulation is virtually confined to the non-diffusible fraction. Laskowski (1933) has suggested that this extra calcium is present in the form of a colloidal calcium phosphate compound. Benjamin and Hess (1933) and Heller, Paul . . .