Male Japanese Quail Research Articles

Sequential Expression of Osteoblast Phenotypic Genes During Medullary Bone Formation and Resorption in Estrogen-Treated Male Japanese Quails

Sequential Expression of Osteoblast Phenotypic Genes During Medullary Bone Formation and Resorption in Estrogen-Treated Male Japanese Quails

Excreted corticosterone metabolites differ between two galliform species, Japanese Quail and Chicken, between sexes and between urine and faecal parts of droppings

Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) are a common avian laboratory model, and measuring corticosterone metabolites (CM) non-invasively from Quail droppings would be of broad interest. Using the enzyme immunoassay suitable for measuring CM in droppings of Chicken (Gallus domesticus) and other galliform species, we tested the CM measured in Quail droppings after stimulation with adrenocorticotropic hormone. An ACTH challenge indicated that the assay did not detect major amounts of CM in Japanese Quail excreta. Therefore, we aimed at testing whether steroid metabolism and clearance differed between closely related species. We compared the CM excretion patterns in male and female Japanese Quail and Chicken. After intravenous injection with [3H]-labelled corticosterone, we collected all droppings for 24 h, including caecum excreta. Males and females of both species excreted radioactive CM with two peaks. The first radioactivity-peak presumably was from uric acid (Quail 45/55 min; Chicken 120/75 min post-injection, males/females respectively), whereas the second peak probably represented faecal excretion (180/210 min; 240/140 min, respectively). Several highly polar radioactive CM, but no corticosterone, was separated by chromatography in droppings of both species. Number and identity of CM considerably differed between males and females, as well as between urine and faecal excretion. The nature of excreted CM in Quail droppings remains unresolved. However, we show that knowing the effective time for dropping collection is essential for interpreting stimulus-specific CM responses, and mixing samples from rapid urine and slower faecal excretion should be avoided.

Cellular and biochemical effects induced by atrazine on blood of male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Atrazine a potent endocrine disruptor herbicide is broadly used to control rapidly growing unwanted weeds in various cereals crops which induce adverse effects both in mammalian and avian species. In present study 96 mature male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were procured and randomly kept in eight groups (A to H) each having 12 birds. Atrazine was administered orally at 0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500mg/kg body weight to all experimental groups. The mitomycin C at 2mg/kg body weight was given to the birds of group B which served as a positive control. From each group 4 birds were randomly selected and harvested at day 15, 30 and 45. A significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum total protein, serum albumin and serum testosterone values were recorded at day 45 in all treated groups. A significant increase in serum ALT and AST concentration was also recorded. Moreover, morphological alterations in nucleus of erythrocytes were also observed including blebbed nuclei, notched nuclei, lobed nuclei, vacuolated cells, binucleated cell, and cell with pear shaped and micronucleus. Overall, our results show that atrazine at higher doses induces significant serum biochemical alterations and changes in nucleus of erythrocytes.

Allometric Growth of Testes in Relation to Age, Body Weight and Selected Blood Parameters in Male Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica).

The Japanese quail is a very valuable animal model for research in a variety of biological disciplines. The purpose of this study was to characterize and interrelate age-dependent testicular parameters with various blood constituents: blood glucose, plasma proteins and packed cell volume that are developing concurrently in the growing bird. Another objective of the study was to identify selective physioanatomical markers for predicting the testicular growth and the onset of sexual maturity. Male Japanese quail hatchlings were raised in temperature controlled brooders for up to 3 weeks of age under a constant light and then shifted to hanging cages in an air conditioned room set at ~73° F under a 14L: 10D lighting system and ad libitum access to feed and water. Starting d8, a group of 8-10 birds of uniform size and weight were selected randomly at 4-day intervals up to d52 of age for the project. The birds were weighed and blood sampled using the brachial vein and Blood Glucose (BGL), Total Plasma Proteins (PP) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) levels were measured prior to euthanization. The testes were removed and measured for weight, length, width and Volume (VOL). All the testicular measurements were then correlated with age and body weight. The left testes were larger than the right testes and their differences were evident at d36 of age. Testicular measurements also reflected two distinct growth surges at d28, d32 and d36 of age. Combined Testes Weight (CTW) and Combined Testes Volume (CTV) revealed a strong positive correlation with PCV and PP and a negative correlation with Blood Glucose Level (BGL). Accordingly, these measurements could serve as reliable markers of growth rate and sexual maturation in male Japanese quail.

Suplementasi Tepung Jangkrik Sebagai Sumber Protein Pengaruhnya Terhadap Kinerja Burung Puyuh (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

This research aims to study and determine the effect of crickets flour supplementation of feed on performance of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The material used is Day Old Quail (DOQ) were 70 individuals (35 males and 35 females), commercial rations for laying hens and crickets flour. Experiments designed to completely randomized design factorial 2x5 pattern. The first factor gender (male and female), the second factor adding crickets flour into a commercial ration (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% of the ration). Each treatment was repeated 7 times. Variables observed in this study is consumption, body weight gain, conversion and carcass percentage. Data were analyzed using the Fingerprint Variety of RAL factorial ANOVA. Further test of the simple effect or primary conducted using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed that supplementation of crickets flour in feed did not affect on feed consumption, but it influenced on body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and carcass percentage of male and female Japanese quail.

Phytosterol additive boosts adrenal response to ACTH in male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

To investigate the adrenal effect of a phytosterol (PS) additive, 80 male Japanese quail were divided into four sub-groups and fed 0, 40, 400, and 4,000ppm of PS, respectively, for 21days. Subsequently, 50% of the birds from each dosage group were subjected to a 6-day adrenal function test, whereby they were injected with long-lasting adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). The remaining quail in each PS dosage group were raised under normal conditions. The groups receiving 400 and 4000ppm PS exhibited decreased serum levels of LDL-cholesterol with and without ACTH stimulation (P<0.01). No amount of dose of PS changed serum corticosterone (CORT) under normal conditions (P>0.05). Enhancement of CORT was observed on the 2nd and the 6thdays of the ACTH challenge in birds receiving 400ppm (P<0.05). Average ACTH-induced CORT levels in the 400ppm group were higher than in the 0ppm group (P<0.01). Our results demonstrated that PS can boost ACTH-induced CORT levels in male Japanese quail.

Evidence for estrogen receptor expression during medullary bone formation and resorption in estrogen-treated male Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The temporal expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-α and ER-β mRNA was examined in male Japanese quails. Femurs of quails receiving 17β-estradiol underwent RTPCR and histochemical analysis 1 to 15 days after treatment. Untreated quails were used as controls (day 0). Between days 0 and 5, cells lining the bone endosteal surface differentiated into osteoblasts, which in turn formed medullary bone. Expression of ER-α was already observed on day 0 and increased slightly during bone formation whereas ER-β was hardly detected throughout this process. After osteoclasts appeared on the medullary bone surface, this type of bone disappeared from the bone marrow cavity (days 7~15). ER-α expression simultaneously decreased slightly and ER-β levels remained very low. These results suggest that estrogen activity mediated by ER-α not only affects medullary bone formation but also bone resorption.

Naturalistic Conditioned Stimuli Facilitate Sexual Conditioning Because of their Similarity with the Unconditioned Stimulus

Previous sexual conditioning studies with male Japanese quail have shown that adding taxidermic female head and neck cues to a conditioned stimulus (CS) facilitates conditioned sexual responding. The present experiment examined CS-US similarity as a possible mechanism for this facilitation. During sexual conditioning trials, artificially colored CSs with or without taxidermic female head cues were paired with copulatory access to artificially colored female quail (the unconditioned stimulus or US) to form similar and dissimilar CS-US combinations. As in previous experiments the presence of taxidermic female cues on the CS enhanced conditioned copulatory responding. Additionally, more conditioned copulatory responding developed when the CS and US colors were similar compared to when they were different. The results indicate that similarity between the CS and US strengthens the sexual conditioning of male quail, and similarity in color is more important than similarity in shape. The results also suggest that CS-US similarity may be one factor responsible for the facilitated conditioned responding that occurs when female cues are added to a CS object. The behavior systems approach is used to interpret the findings.

Effects of Sulfamethazine on Induction of Precocious Puberty in Japanese Quails (&lt;i&gt;Coturnix japonica&lt;/i&gt;) Assessed through Monitoring the Hormonal Changes and Gonadal Development

To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of sulfamethazine (SMZ) on growth performance, gonadal development and hormonal changes, male and female Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were fed a control diet with or without SMZ (0.2%) from one day post hatching until 6 weeks of age. In male quail, the deviation in growth performance between SMZ and control chicks started at the 3rd week, and the disparity was significant at the 5th and 6th weeks. Hormonal analysis revealed a substantial increase in the pituitary and circulating LH (at the 5th and 6th weeks), testicular and circulating testosterone (at the 6th week) and plasma ir-inhibin (at 5th week) levels following feeding of the diet containing SMZ. The testicular size and weights were significantly larger at the 5th week, and histological analysis demonstrated an enlargement of seminiferous tubules, filling of the luminal fluid with spermatozoa and a number of interstitial cells. In female quail, the body and ovarian weights were considerably increased at the 6th week. The SMZ supplemented group showed a significant elevation in pituitary LH content (from the 4th week), plasma LH (at the 5th and 6th weeks), ir-inhibin (at the 3rd and 6th week) and progesterone (at the 2nd, 5th and 6th weeks) as compared with control chicks. These results indicated that SMZ was able to stimulate the secretion of gonadotropins and accordingly the gonadal hormones and that was associated with an early gonadal function in male (at the 5th week) and female (at the 6th week) Japanese quail.

Effects of Thyme Essential Oil on Performance, Some Blood Parameters and Ileal Microflora of Japanese Quail

The ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters has stimulated the search for alternative feed supplements in poultry production. The active principles of thyme essential oil act as a digestibility enhancer, balancing the gut microbial ecosystem and stimulating the secretion of endogenous digestive enzymes and thus improving growth performance in poultry (Lovkova et al., 2001; Williams and Losa, 2001). A study was performed to investigate the effects of thyme essential oil (TEO) on performance, carcass characteristics, some blood parameters and ileal microflora of Japanese quail. This study lasted 35 days of age. One hundred and fifty day-old male Japanese quail chicks in a completely randomized design with two treatments (with or without 1 g/kg TEO) and five replicates of 15 birds each were used. All parameters were measured at the end of the experiment. The supplementation of TEO significantly (P<0.05) increased live body weight and relative weights of carcass and breast, lowered serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and glucose and improved ileal microflora. It was concluded that the addition of 1 g/kg TEO might offer some beneficial effects on Japanese quail to increase live body weight and improve some blood parameters and gut miroflora.

The Effects of Waste Products of generators exhausts on Foam Gland in Male Japanese Quail (contunix conurnix) Anatomical and Histological study

This study had been made to detect the gross and histological changes of cloacal gland (foam gland) in Fourty males of Japanese quail which exposed to waste products of generator exhausts with different periods. The Fourty males Japanese quail were divided into four groups showed that, a mild foam production of cloacal glands with mild atrophy was observed in third group which exposed to exhaust for a period of 20 days. The cloacal glands were atrophied, and no foam production was appeared in the first and second groups which exposed to exhaust for a period of 40 and 60 days, while normal glandular size and heavy foam production was noticed in the fourth group (control group). The histological changes of cloacal gland in the first and second groups revealed atrophy of its secretory units and the lining of these secretory units were flat epithelial cells. Beside, the septa and the interstitial connective tissue were thick. The lining secretory units of the cloacal gland in the third group showed low cuboidal cells with slightly thickened of the lamina properia and the interstitial connective tissue. While the cloacal gland of control group showed features of normal glandular histology were their secretory units lined by simple columnar epithelium. These cells have negative PAS stain granules. The lamina properia in the control group was thick with well vascularized connective tissue.

Beak abnormality in Coturnixcoturnix japonica

A reporting of an abnormality in the beak in a male Japanese quail, Coturnixcoturnix japonica, has been discussed in this paper. During the behavioral study of Japanese quails, a male differed markedly from the others due to its comparatively longer beak. The maxilla was abnormally elongated and curved over the mandible, which made it difficult to feed and drink.Beak deformities has been previously reported in the Antarctic Cormorant,Phalacrocoraxbransfieldensischick; White winged Becard,Pachyramphuspolychopterus; Passerines (Craves); Brown headed Cowbird; Black Wheatears, Oenantheleucura; Southern Giant Petrel, Macronectesgiganteus chick. But no such record of beak deformity in japanese quail has been studied. The reason behind this anomaly can be a subject of research.

Molecular study for the sex identification in Japanese quails (Coturnix Japonica)

techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The aim of this study was to determine the sex of Japanese quail ( Coturnix japonica ) by DNA analysis. Chromo helicase DNA (CHD) genes are preserved within avian Z and W sex chromosomes. The intron regions of the CHDW and CHDZ genes vary between male (ZZ) and female (ZW) individuals. The method used in this study was based on this difference. Genomic DNA was extracted from feathers instead of blood. The intron regions of CHDW and CHDZ genes were amplified by sex specific primers (Coja-F and Coja-R). PCR products were screened by agarose gel electrophoresis. These results show single (ZW) amplified fragments, about 320 bp for female, and no amplified PCR product for male (ZZ) Japanese quails. These results of this study show that CHD gene amplification is a convenient, inexpensive, safe, and simple technique for sex typing of Japanese quails and other avian species in the wild.

Changes in plasma gonadotrophins, testosterone, prolactin, thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations in male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) of a heavy body weight line during photo-induced testicular growth and regression

1. Simultaneous changes of cloacal gland area (CGA) and plasma luteinising hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) during photo-induced testicular growth and regression were measured in commercially bred Japanese quail from a heavy body weight line. 2. Somatically mature male Japanese quail were transferred from short days (light:dark 8L:16D) at 10°C, to long days (16L:8D) at 20°C; and sexually mature male Japanese quail were transferred from long to short days. All variables were measured at transfer and every 5 d thereafter for 35 d. 3. Transfer from short to long days caused significant increases in LH, FSH, T and testis weight (TW) after 5 d, and in CGA after 10 d. T3 decreased after 5 d, whereas T4 increased significantly after 25 long days and PRL did not undergo any consistent change. The testicular growth rate was k = 0·1146. 4. Transferring quail from long to short days caused significant decreases in LH and FSH after 5 d, and decreases in T, TW and CGA after 10 d. T4 decreased after 5 d whilst T3 increased significantly by day 15. PRL decreased significantly after 10 d then rose before declining again. The testicular regression rate was k = 0·0582. 5. The rates of photo-induced testicular development and regression in a strain of large Japanese quail did not differ from rates reported for other strains of quail. CGA was a better indicator of TW than plasma T concentrations during growth and regression. The role of PRL in photo-induced reproductive cycles in male Japanese quail remains to be determined. 6. The photoperiod-induced changes in gonad size and hormone concentrations, together provide valuable information that can be used in future studies of the endocrinology and neuroendocrinology of photoperiodism in birds.

The role of the male cloacal gland in reproductive success in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

The adult male Japanese quail has a well developed cloacal gland that produces meringue-like white foam. The physiological significance of the cloacal gland and its foam is still unclear. Therefore, we conducted two experiments to establish the functional role of the cloacal gland and its foam in natural mating and oviducal sperm transport. In the first experiment, artificial insemination of equal numbers of spermatozoa diluted in foam extract and normal saline once in a week were used to determine the role of foam in sperm transport in the female oviduct. After artificial insemination, eggs were collected to measure fertility, the duration of the fertile period, sperm holes and attached spermatozoa in the perivitelline membrane. Higher (P<0.05) fertility and greater duration of the fertile period were observed when semen was inseminated along with foam extract compared with normal saline. Further, the sperm holes and trapped spermatozoa in the perivitelline membrane were also higher (P<0.05) in the presence of foam extract. In the second experiment, two males with bigger and smaller cloacal gland areas were allowed to mate with a female. The mating attempts of males with larger cloacal gland were more successful (P<0.05) than males with smaller cloacal glands. Our results indicated that cloacal foam improves sperm transport in the female oviduct and that males with larger cloacal gland areas are preferred during mating.

The relationship between adrenocortical function and Hsp70 expression in socially isolated Japanese quail

Physiological responses to social isolation stress were compared in 56-day-old male Japanese quail. Birds were fed pretreated diets for 3 days as follows: (i) Basal diet (control); (ii) Basal diet + 1500 mg/kg metyrapone (BM); (iii) Basal diet + 30 mg/kg corticosterone (BCO); (iv) Basal diet + 250 mg/kg ascorbic acid (BC); (v) Basal diet + 250 mg/kg α-tocopherol (BE); (vi) Basal diet + 250 mg/kg ascorbic acid and 250 mg/kg α-tocopherol (BCE). The birds were subsequently socially isolated in individual opaque brown paper box for 2 hours. Plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentration and heart and brain heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70) expressions were determined before stress and immediately after stress. Two hours of isolation stress elevated CORT concentration significantly in the control and BE birds but not in the BC, BCE and BM birds. There was a significant reduction in CORT concentration after isolation stress in the BCO group. Isolation stress increased Hsp 70 expression in the brain and heart of control and BM birds. However, brain and heart Hsp 70 expressions were not significantly altered in the isolated BC, BCE and BE birds. Although, the CORT concentration of BM birds was not affected by isolation stress, Hsp70 expression in both brain and heart were significantly increased. Moreover, exogenous corticosterone supplementation did not result in elevation of Hsp 70 expression. It can be concluded that, although Hsp 70 induction had not been directly affected by CORT concentration, it may be modulated by the HPA axis function via activation of ACTH.

Acute Stress Differentially Affects Aromatase Activity in Specific Brain Nuclei of Adult Male and Female Quail

The rapid and temporary suppression of reproductive behavior is often assumed to be an important feature of the adaptive acute stress response. However, how this suppression operates at the mechanistic level is poorly understood. The enzyme aromatase converts testosterone to estradiol in the brain to activate reproductive behavior in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). The discovery of rapid and reversible modification of aromatase activity (AA) provides a potential mechanism for fast, stress-induced changes in behavior. We investigated the effects of acute stress on AA in both sexes by measuring enzyme activity in all aromatase-expressing brain nuclei before, during, and after 30 min of acute restraint stress. We show here that acute stress rapidly alters AA in the male and female brain and that these changes are specific to the brain nuclei and sex of the individual. Specifically, acute stress rapidly (5 min) increased AA in the male medial preoptic nucleus, a region controlling male reproductive behavior; in females, a similar increase was also observed, but it appeared delayed (15 min) and had smaller amplitude. In the ventromedial and tuberal hypothalamus, regions associated with female reproductive behavior, stress induced a quick and sustained decrease in AA in females, but in males, only a slight increase (ventromedial) or no change (tuberal) in AA was observed. Effects of acute stress on brain estrogen production, therefore, represent one potential way through which stress affects reproduction.

Association Between Body Weight Growth and Selected Physiological Parameters in Male Japanese Quail (Coturnrix japonica).

Japanese quail is very popular research animal model. Its continued characterization for various norms is highly desirable for obtaining accurate and reliable results. This study was designed to assess various physiological parameters which are associated with body growth and development. Among various physiological parameters, blood constituents and hormones are commonly used as diagnostic tools in both physiological and pathological evaluations of humans and animals. Japanese quail hatchlings were housed in the temperature controlled brooders up to 3 weeks of age and then shifted to hanging cages in air conditioned room at ~74 F under 14L:10D lighting system and free access to feed and fresh water. Starting d8, a group of birds of uniform size and weight were selected randomly and euthanized at 4-day intervals up to d52 of age. The birds were weighed and blood sampled from the brachial vein for measuring Blood Glucose (BGL), Total Plasma Proteins (PP) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV). It was found that starting d36 all the three physiological parameters altered with approaching sexual maturity (d48-52): BGL decreased (252 vrs. 182 mg/dl, p<0.05), PCV% increased (43.6 vrs. 49.6%, p<0.05) and PP also increased (2.7 vrs. 3.2 gm/dl, p>0.05). Accordingly, BGL, PCV and PP values demonstrated significant potential to predict approaching sexual maturity in male Japanese quail.

Neonatal feed restriction modulates circulating levels of corticosterone and expression of glucocorticoid receptor and heat shock protein 70 in aged Japanese quail exposed to acute heat stress

This study aimed to determine the effect of neonatal feed restriction on plasma corticosterone concentration (CORT), hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression, and heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 expression in aged male Japanese quail subjected to acute heat stress. Equal numbers of chicks were subjected to either ad libitum feeding (AL) or 60% feed restriction on d 4, 5, and 6 (FR). At 21 (young) and 270 (aged) d of age, birds were exposed to 43 ± 1°C for 1 h. Blood and hippocampus samples were collected to determine CORT and Hsp 70 and GR expressions before heat stress and following 1 h of heat stress, 1 h of post-heat stress recovery, and 2 h of post-heat stress recovery. With the use of real-time PCR and enzyme immunoassay, we examined the hippocampal expression of GR and Hsp 70 and CORT. The GR expression of the young birds increased following heat stress and remained consistent throughout the period of recovery. Conversely, no significant changes were noted on GR expression of aged birds. Although both young and aged birds had similar CORT before and during heat stress, the latter exhibited greater values following 1 and 2 h of recovery. Within the young group, feeding regimens had no significant effect on Hsp 70 expression. However, neonatal feed restriction improved Hsp 70 expression in aged birds. Neonatal feed restriction, compared with the AL group, resulted in higher CORT on d 21 but the converse was noted on d 270. Neonatal feed restriction appears to set a robust reactive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal response allowing the development of adaptive, healthy, and resilient phenotypes in aged quail as measured by a higher hippocampal Hsp 70 expression along with lower CORT.

Organizing Effects of Sex Steroids on Brain Aromatase Activity in Quail

Preoptic/hypothalamic aromatase activity (AA) is sexually differentiated in birds and mammals but the mechanisms controlling this sex difference remain unclear. We determined here (1) brain sites where AA is sexually differentiated and (2) whether this sex difference results from organizing effects of estrogens during ontogeny or activating effects of testosterone in adulthood. In the first experiment we measured AA in brain regions micropunched in adult male and female Japanese quail utilizing the novel strategy of basing the microdissections on the distribution of aromatase-immunoreactive cells. The largest sex difference was found in the medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (mBST) followed by the medial preoptic nucleus (POM) and the tuberal hypothalamic region. A second experiment tested the effect of embryonic treatments known to sex-reverse male copulatory behavior (i.e., estradiol benzoate [EB] or the aromatase inhibitor, Vorozole) on brain AA in gonadectomized adult males and females chronically treated as adults with testosterone. Embryonic EB demasculinized male copulatory behavior, while vorozole blocked demasculinization of behavior in females as previously demonstrated in birds. Interestingly, these treatments did not affect a measure of appetitive sexual behavior. In parallel, embryonic vorozole increased, while EB decreased AA in pooled POM and mBST, but the same effect was observed in both sexes. Together, these data indicate that the early action of estrogens demasculinizes AA. However, this organizational action of estrogens on AA does not explain the behavioral sex difference in copulatory behavior since AA is similar in testosterone-treated males and females that were or were not exposed to embryonic treatments with estrogens.