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In the present study, alkaline phosphatase isozyme of serum in Japanese quail was analyzed electrophoretically; and the relations among alkaline phosphatase activity, thyroidal function and sex hormone were examined.The results are summarized as follows:1) It was found that alkaline phosphatase activity (total activity) of serum in immature Japanese quail was higher than that of mature ones. In the male it continued to decrease with advancing age until 8 weeks of age and afterward it maintained a low activity in maturity. In the female it decreased with advancing age until 6 weeks of age; but at 7 weeks of age when the female reached the stage of egg-laying, serum alkaline phosphatase of the female increased somewhat and thereafter it declined again consistently. The activity of the female is slightly higher than that of the male at the mature stage.2) By means of agar-gel electrophoresis, serum alkaline phosphatase of Japanese quail was separated into two polymorphic regions, and it was found that there existed Fpattern appearing in the fast mobility region (Akp-1) and A, B and C-pattern in the slow mobility region (Akp-2) on the anode side.3) From the result of a comparative study on activities of the abovementioned patterns at each week, it was found that the activity of each pattern was higher in immature quail than in mature ones. Further, at the stage of sexual maturity, the activity of F-pattern of the female was higher than that of the male. These results suggest that the aforsaid difference between the male and female on alkaline phosphatase activity (total activity) at the mature stage is caused by the difference in F-pattern activity between the male and female.4) To elucidate the endocrine control of serum alkaline phosphatase isozyme pattern in the Japanese quail, the present authors undertook the experiments of administration of L-thyroxine, feeding of thiouracil, gonadectomy and administration of sex hormones. As a result, it is suggested that alkaline phophatase activity at the immature stage is resulted to thyroidal function and that F-pattern activity of the female at the adult stage is controlled by estrogen.

Serum amylase isozyme of various breeds of domestic fowl and four species of jungle fowl was studied from genetico-biochemical aspects. The results are summarized as follows:1) In respect of serum amylase isozyme of domestic fowl, 5 bands were detected on the anode side and among these bands, genetic variations were seen in the bands A and B and the existence of three phenotypes, AA, AB and BB was confirmed. From the results of various mating experiments, these bands A and B were found to be controlled by a pair of co-dominant alleles, Amy-1A and Amy-1B located on autosome.2) As to various breeds of domestic fowl classified per origin or use, frequency of phenotype and gene frequency of serum amylase isozyme were examined. As a result, distinct differences among breeds were observed in the frequency of occurrence. The above results seem to be suggestive of the possibility of studies of breed differentiation in domestic fowl with genes controlling amylase isozyme as markers.3) Serum amylase isozyme of four species of jungle fowl, Gallus gallus, Gallus sonneratii, Gallus varius and Gallus lafayetti was analyzed and compared with that of domestic fowl. As a result, coincidence of the phenotypes of serum amylase isozyme of these jungle fowl with those of domestic fowl was confirmed.

By means of agar gel electrophoresis, serum alkaline phosphatase of the Japanese quail was separated into two polymorphic regions, and it was found that there existed F-pattern appearing in the fast mobility region (Akp-1) and A, B and C pattern in the slow mobility region (Akp-2) on the anode side. With respect to Akp-2 region, six phenotypes were observed: AA, AB, BB, BC, AC and CC. These phenotypes were shown to be controlled by three autosomal co-dominant alleles: Akp-2A, Akp-2B and Akp-2C. Gene frequencies in the total population were: q Akp-2A, 0.081; q Akp-2B, 0.552; q Akp-2C, 0.367.