Eighteen-Hour Uptake of 131I by the Thyroids and the Ovaries of Japanese Quail 1 Day to 9 Months of Age

Abstract

Eighteen-hour thyroidal 131 I uptake values (in vitro measurement) for Japanese quail ranged from 3% for 9-month old non-laying females to 36% for 3-week old stressed males. Uptake values for the 1- and 3-week old birds were two to three times the values found for the other age groups. 131I accumulation by the ovaries ranged from 0.003% for 3-week old females to 42% for 7-month old layers. In these layers, the growing oocytes accumulated ten times the quantity of tracer found in the thyroids. The period of rapid oocyte growth was estimated to have been 7.3 days.