An experiment wasconducted to determine the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanineaminotransferase and the liver biometry of laying quails (Coturnix coturnixjaponica) from one to 25 days of age. Ninety, day-old, quails were used.A randomized complete experimental design was used with six ages, five replicatesand one animal per experimental unit. At 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days of agefive animals were sacrificed, the liver removed, weighed, frozen with liquidnitrogen and stored at -20 ºC. Liver samples were collected, homogenized andcentrifuged to determine the homogenate aspartate aminotransferase and alanineaminotransferase activities. Liver weight developed linearly with age but differentlyfrom the body weight. Total aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferaseactivities showed a linear increase with age. Total aspartate aminotransferaseshowed higher activities than alanine aminotransferase. At one day old, quailliver aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase had specific activitieshigher than those observed at other ages. Aspartate aminotransferase activityper g of liver was higher than aspartate aminotransferase at all ages studied.Alanine aminotransferase activity per g of body weight showed a linear reductionwith age. The data observed will allow better adjustment of the level of proteinin quail feed.
