Effect of Dietary DL-Ethionine on Egg Laying and Activities of Cytoplasmic and Mitochondrial L-glycerol 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases in Liver and Kidney of Japanese Quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica

Abstract

The effect of dietary DL-ethionine on egg laying and activities of succinate dehydrogenases, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial L-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenases, in liver and kidney of Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica was investigated. When quail at full laying were fed a diet supplemented with DL-ethionine at 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.15% and 0.30% (w/w), respectively, apparent DL-ethionine concentration dependent inhibitions of egg laying rate, weights of ovary and oviduct, and egg weight were observed. At the 0.30% level, activity per g tissue of cytoplasmic L-glygerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase from liver and kidney decreased to about one-half of the initial activity. A significant difference in the activity of mitochondrial L-glycerol 3-phosphate and succinate dehydrogenase from liver and kidney was obtained between the control and the DL-ethionine fed quail, respectively. These results indicated that dietary DL-ethionine inhibits egg laying and activities of L-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenases and succinate dehydrogenase of both liver and kidney of Japanese quail.