Fig. 1

Transfer of immune factors into egg whites depends on maternal levels. a Serum IgA, IgG, IgM, LYZ, and AvBDs levels in hens as determined by ELISA. n = 5 hens. b IgA, IgG, IgM, LYZ, and AvBDs levels in the egg whites of breeder eggs as determined by ELISA. n = 6 eggs. c IgA, IgG, IgM, LYZ, and AvBDs levels in the magnums of hens as determined by ELISA. n = 5 hens. d Expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides, protease-inhibiting proteins, and receptors in the magnums of hens as determined by qPCR. n = 5 hens. e–g Representative images of the expression of IgA, LYZ, and ovoinhibitor in the magnums of hens as indicated by IHC-P. Bars = 100 μm (top row) and 20 μm (bottom row). h LYZ and ovoinhibitor expression in the magnum as determined by Western blotting. n = 3 hens. i Spearman correlations of immune factors between the serum and magnum in hens. *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01, n = 10. Data are shown as the means ± SEMs (a–d). Student’s t-test was conducted. ns, P ≥ 0.05, *P < 0.05, and **P < 0.01