Differential expression was evaluated for the followinggenes involved in immunity, transport and metabolism(Table 1): AvBD10, avian b-defensin 10 (antimicrobialpeptide); IL6, interleukin 6 (response to inflammationand infection); IL8L1, interleukin 8-like 1 (inflammatoryactivity); SLC5A1, solute carrier family 5 member 1(sodium/glucose transport); CA2, carbonic anhydrase 2(HCO3 and CO2 transport, nitrogen metabolism andeggshell formation); CALB1, calbindin 1 (calcium iontransport); RARRES1, retinoic acid receptor responder 1(negative regulation of endopeptidase activity andeggshell matrix protein); and BPIFB3, BPI fold containing family B member 3 (innate immune response andeggshell matrix protein). Prior to assessing correlationcoefficients (r), expression values of the eight studiedgenes were normalised in between the samples relative to beta actin used as a household gene.