Fig. 5From: Decreased eggshell strength caused by impairment of uterine calcium transport coincide with higher bone minerals and quality in aged laying hensVolcano plot of DEGs and eggshell ultrastructure at the initiation (8.5 h PO) and growth (18.5 h PO) stages of eggshell calcification. A shows a mimetic diagram of sampling, the uterus and eggshell were removed to determine the transcriptome and ultrastructure, respectively. B and D at the initiation stage of eggshell calcification; C and E at the growth stage of eggshell calcification. SM, shell membrane; MK, mammillary knob; TT, total thickness; ET, effective layer thickness; MT, mammillary layer thickness; PO, post-oviposition; HBS, high eggshell breaking strength group; LBS, low eggshell breaking strength group. Asterisk (*) denotes significant difference (P < 0.05) between the HBS and LBSBack to article page