Photoperiods and age as factors modifying the effects of Kepone in Japanese quail

Abstract

Immature Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica) of both sexes fed 200 ppm of the insecticide Kepone, when exposed to 16 hr of light per day, had significantly enlarged reproductive organs, livers and adrenal glands. After a reduction in the photoperiod high mortality occurred in only the birds previously fed Kepone. Administration of Kepone to adult females while egg-laying did not affect the weight of reproductive organs or livers. In adult males of the same age testes and livers were greatly enlarged. In both sexes of adult birds, the adrenals were enlarged. Subsequent exposure to reduced photoperiod of the Kepone-fed adult quails of both sexes produced no mortality. In males fed Kepone, testicular regression was recorded much earlier than in controls. Previous ingestion of Kepone affected neither the cessation of egg-laying nor the regression of the ovary. Kepone exerted its effects primarily on the immature quail of both sexes and to a lesser degree on adults. An estrogenic action of Kepone was indicated by increased oviduct weight of young females on a photoperiod of 6 hr light and 18 hr dark per day. In adult males the major estrogenic effect was increased liver weight.