Abstract:

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the timeline and characterize the development of hepatic lipidosis in the American mink (Mustela vison) in reponse to short-term 5 days of fasting and liver recovery after 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 days of refeeding. Thirty female minks were divided into a fed control group and five experimental groups and 3% chicken oil were added to all the groups. We reported here the effects on body weight, body condition, hepatosomatic index and liver lipid content. Food deprivation resulted in the rapid loss of body weight, causing elevated hepatosomatic index and increased liver lipid content. As a result, body weight and liver recovered when normal feeding was resumed for 21 days to 28 days.