Showing papers on "Coturnix published in 1987"

A comparison of aromatase, 5α‐, and 5β‐ reductase activities in the brain and pituitary of male and female quail (C. c. japonica)

Abstract: In numerous vertebrate species including Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), actions of testosterone (T) on neuroendocrine target tissues are mediated in part by conversion to estrogenic and androgenic metabolites In order to assess which pathways were favored in each identified androgen target area in quail brain and whether there were discernible sex differences, we developed an assay for simultaneously quantifying aromatase, 5 alpha-, and 5 beta-reductase In addition, we made the first definitive identification of aromatase in quail pituitary and compared all three enzyme activities in the pituitary of males and females Enzymes were measured in tissue homogenates by the conversion of [3H]androstenedione to [3H]estrone, [3H]5 alpha-androstanedione, and 5 beta-androstanedione Aromatase activity was restricted to limbic tissues (anterior hypothalamus greater than posterior hypothalamus greater than septum greater than archistriatum containing nucleus taenia) while hyperstriatum, cerebellum, and midbrain containing nucleus intercollicularis were aromatase-negative Quail pituitary aromatized androgen at rates equivalent to anterior hypothalamus/pre-optic area (aHPOA) 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reductase were present in all tissues tested Aromatase was significantly higher in aHPOA and pituitary of males, whereas 5 alpha-reductase was significantly higher in female pituitary These data suggest that a complex of androgen-metabolizing enzymes controls the neuroanatomic (spatial) distribution of active hormone in neuroendocrine tissues and that quantitative differences between males and females may account for sex differences in behavior

Changes in embryonic development associated with long-term selection for high growth rate in Japanese quail.

Abstract: Selection for rapid growth in the quail resulted in a changed growth pattern of the embryo and the extra-embryonic membranes (the yolk sac and allantois). The early part of the incubation period was characterized by a reduced embryo weight and a more rapid early development of the extra-embryonic membranes. These changes were followed by an increased growth rate of the embryo. The increased growth rate was apparently linked to the more rapid early development of the extra-embryonic membranes. Thus, the growth rate was most likely restricted by the capacity to absorb and utilize yolk. It also appears that at least part of the increase in growth rate was made possible by the change in the early embryonic growth pattern.

Interaction of androgens and estrogens in the control of reproduction

Abstract: In the 1st report of regulation by the brain of sexual behavior by both estrogen and androgen simultaneously brain aromatase LH and FSH secretion and sexual behavior were monitored in castrated quail. 32 castrated male quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were injected daily with i) testosterone 1 mg (7 birds); ii) the synthetic androgen methyltrienolone R 1881 (Roussel-Uclaf) 1 mg (7) iii) diethylstilbestrol (DES) 200 mcg (7); iv) R 1881 1 mg and DES 200 mcg (6); v) or solvent controls (5). Injections were in propylene glycol for 25 days. Behavioral tests for male sexual behavior receptivity and crowing were performed LH and FSH were radioimmunoassayed and aromatase was assayed in preoptic tissue. Both R 1881 and DES activated male sexual behavior inhibited LH and FSH secretion and increased hypothalamic aromatase activity. The effects on aromatase and FSH of R1881 and DES were additive. Thus both androgen and estrogen receptors may be involved in control of both gonadotropin release and sexual behavior in this species.

Comparative thyroid development in precocial Japanese quail and altricial ring doves.

Abstract: The patterns of thyroid development in precocial Japanese quail and altricial Ring doves are described and compared. Thyroid development can be divided into two phases: The first is characterized by increasing functional capacity of the thyroid gland but low circulating concentrations of thyroid hormones; during the second phase there are further increases in thyroid gland activity as well as a shift toward much higher levels of thyroid activity in the periphery. In Japanese quail, the first phase occurs during the latter half of embryonic life, and there is an abrupt transition to the second phase beginning with a perinatal hormone peak. In Ring doves the first phase continues into the first few days of the posthatching period, and the transition to the second phase of higher serum hormones is gradual and lasts until about 6-8 days of age. In addition to the release of hormones from the thyroid gland, serum binding proteins and peripheral tissue 5'-monodeiodinase (which converts thyroxine to triiodothyronine, the metabolically active hormone) play roles in controlling the balance of thyroid hormone availability to the tissues. The potential roles of peripheral deiodinases in hormone dynamics are discussed in relation to tissue and organ growth and maturation during the first phase and in relation to whole organism metabolism with continued growth during the second phase.

Oral and intramuscular toxicity of inorganic and organic mercury chloride to growing quail.

Abstract: The lethal toxicity of inorganic (HgCl2) and organic (CH3HgCl) mercury chloride was compared for Coturnix (Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica) of different ages from hatch through adulthood by single-dose acute oral and intramuscular injections and by a 5-d dietary trial. Sublethal mercury toxicity was studied by evaluation of plasma and brain cholinesterase activity. CH3HgCl was more toxic than HgCl2 in all tests at each age tested. LD50s consistently increased over the first 4 wk for both acute methods and both mercurials and then stabilized. The striking difference between single-dose acute and 5-d dietary tests was that CH3HgCl averaged about twice as toxic as HgCl2 by both acute methods, compared to 100 times as toxic by the dietary method. For example, at 2 wk of age, the oral LD50s for CH3HgCl and HgCl2 were 18 and 42 mg/kg and the dietary LC50s were 47 and 5086 ppm. When birds were fed HgCl2 and developed clinical signs of intoxication, they could recover once treatment was withdrawn; however, on CH3HgCl, clinical signs often commenced after treatment was withdrawn, and then actually intensified for several days and culminated in death.

Luteinizing hormone secretion from the quail pituitary in vitro.

Abstract: An enzymatically dispersed pituitary preparation from Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix) was used to study the dynamics of gonadotropin release. After an 18-h incubation, the cells were challenged with different luteinizing hormone-releasing hormones (LHRH) for 90 min. Using pituitary cells from mature males, mammalian and chicken LHRH I (Gln8-LHRH) had approximately equal luteinizing hormone (LH)-releasing activity whereas chicken LHRH II (His5, Trp7, Tyr8-LHRH) was 8-9 times more potent. The LHRH agonist (Trp6, Pro9-NEt-LHRH) had 15 times greater potency than chicken LHRH I. Pre-incubation with an LHRH antagonist (D-Phe2, D-Trp6-LHRH) significantly suppressed LH release. Acid extracts of median eminence released LH from pituitary cells, extracts from short-day and long-day males had equal activity, while tissue extracts from castrated males had significantly greater LH-releasing activity. Pituitary cells from sexually immature males released LH in response to chicken LHRH I in a similar profile to cells from mature males. These data indicate that the quail LHRH receptor in the male recognizes several different molecular species of LHRH and the response to LHRH is comparable between short- and long-day males. Pituitary cells from ovulating females were variably sensitive to LHRH peptides, possibly due to changes in pituitary sensitivity during the ovulatory cycle. Pituitary cells from immature females did not release LH in response to chicken LHRH I. However, pituitary cells from immature females photostimulated for 1 wk displayed a response to chicken LHRH I and II similar to that of pituitary cells from males.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

MC29 deletion mutants which fail to transform chicken macrophages are competent for transformation of quail macrophages.

Abstract: A number of MC29 mutants with deleted myc genes have been previously characterized. Many of these mutants have been found to be defective for transformation of chicken macrophages in vitro and for tumor induction in chickens. Such mutants are capable of transforming Japanese quail macrophages in vitro and inducing a high incidence of tumors in Japanese quail. Thus, Japanese quail may contain a factor(s) capable of complementing the defective transforming proteins encoded by some deleted v-myc genes.

Coturnism: Human Poisoning By European Migratory Quail

Abstract: Coturnism is human poisoning from European migratory quail (Coturnix commix coturnix L.). While the name is recent, coturnism has been documented since antiquity. Most cases exhibit generalized weakness, progressing to severe muscle pain and lower limb paralysis, vomiting and discolored urine (myoglobinuria). Patients may experience severe gastroenteritis-diarrhea, fever, voice loss and death from cardiac or kidney failure. Toxic quail cannot be differentiated from safe. Geographical distribution of coturnism is concentrated in four discontinuous regions of the Old World: northern Algeria, southern France, mainland and eastern insular Greece, and the southwestern Soviet Union. Quail are toxic in Algeria and France during the northward spring migration but safe to eat on the autumn return flight. This pattern is reversed in Greece and the Soviet Union where quail are poisonous on the southern, autumn flight. Ancient writers and modern scientists have suggested that seeds from hemlock (Conium maculatum) or ...

Gene controlling a differentiation step in the quail melanocyte.

Abstract: Albino mutation in animals blocks pigmentation owing to a deficiency in tyrosinase, although it does not affect the differentiation of colorless melanocytes from the neural crest. In the albino Japanese quail (al, sex-linked), it was demonstrated that morphologically normal melanocytes differentiated from neural crest cells in culture and that these cells contained unmelanized melanosomes as expected for the mutant cells. The mutant melanocytes, however, were shown to exhibit tyrosinase activity in the Golgi-endoplasmic reticulum-lysosome region and in the Golgi vesicles. Our results seem to indicate that the mutation at the al locus affects the transport of tyrosinase from the Golgi area to melanosomes.

Reduced tyrosine kinase specific activity is associated with hypophosphorylation of pp60c-src in cells infected with avian erythroblastosis virus

Abstract: Avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV) is a replication-defective retrovirus that causes erythroblastosis and sarcomas in chickens and transforms immature erythroid cells and fibroblasts in culture. AEV encodes two oncogenes, v-erbA and v-erbB, whose products are closely related to the thyroxine receptor and the epidermal growth factor receptor, respectively. Since tyrosine protein kinases have been implicated in the process of normal growth signal transduction, we wished to study the possible consequences of the expression of these mutated, growth-regulating receptor genes on the activity of the cellular tyrosine kinase pp60c-src. A continuous cell line from AEV-infected quail embryo fibroblasts was derived that exhibited a typical transformed phenotype and expressed the viral oncogene products, p75gag-erbA and gp66-68erbB. Using an immune-complex kinase assay, we found that the specific activity of pp60c-src in AEV-transformed quail cells was decreased by a factor of 6-30 relative to that found in uninfected quail cells. A concomitant 50-80% reduction of 32Pi incorporation into the pp60c-src protein from radiolabeled, transformed cells was also observed, indicating a relationship between hypophosphorylation and diminished enzyme activity. Partial proteolytic phosphopeptide analysis revealed a decrease in phosphorylation of both serine- and tyrosine-containing peptides, suggesting an activation of specific phosphatases or inhibition of specific kinases in the AEV-transformed quail cells. Similar results were found in pp60c-src precipitated from AEV-transformed chicken and rat cells.

Rous sarcoma virus mutant dlPA105 induces different transformed phenotypes in quail embryonic fibroblasts and neuroretina cells.

Abstract: dlPA105 is a spontaneous variant of Rous sarcoma virus, subgroup E, which carries a deletion in the N-terminal portion of the v-src gene coding sequence. This virus was isolated on the basis of its ability to induce proliferation of quiescent quail neuroretina cells. The altered v-src gene encodes a phosphoprotein of 45,000 daltons which possesses tyrosine kinase activity. DNA sequencing of the mutant v-src gene has shown that deletion extends from amino acid 33 to 126 of wild-type p60v-src. We investigated the tumorigenic and transforming properties of this mutant virus. dlPA105 induced fibrosarcomas in quails with an incidence identical to that induced by wild-type virus. Quail neuroretina cells infected with the mutant virus were morphologically transformed and formed colonies in soft agar. In contrast, dlPA105 induced only limited morphological alterations in quail fibroblasts and was defective in promoting anchorage-independent growth of these cells. Synthesis and tyrosine kinase activity of the mutant p45v-src were similar in both cell types. These data indicate that the portion of the v-src protein deleted in p45v-src is dispensable for the mitogenic and tumorigenic properties of wild-type p60v-src, whereas it is required for in vitro transformation of fibroblasts. The ability of dlPA105 to induce different transformation phenotypes in quail fibroblasts and quail neuroretina cells is a property unique to this Rous sarcoma virus mutant and provides evidence for the existence of cell-type-specific response to v-src proteins.

A Lewis X hapten is the major glycolipid of Japanese quail intestine.

Abstract: A fucolipid isolated from Japanese quail intestine was identified as beta-galactosyl-1,4-(alpha-fucosyl-1,3-) beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl-1,3-beta-galactosyl-1,4-beta-glucosyl-1,1-cera mide, a glycolipid which exhibits X-hapten activity. Analysis of the tissue at various embryonic stages showed that the fucolipid is characteristically present at later stages of organogenesis.

Experimental studies on Marek's disease in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Abstract: Day-old quails experimentally infected with Marek's disease (MD) virus of quail origin developed lymphoid tumors. The severity of the disease increased considerably with serial passage. Tumor transplants could be made with cells derived from gross tumors in skeletal muscles, spleen cells, and blood from MD-affected quails. After five to six serial transplants, the tumor could not be transplanted further. Marek's disease tumor-associated surface antigen (MATSA) was demonstrated in lymphoid cells of spleen and peripheral blood lymphocytes of MD-affected quails. The MATSA of quail differed from the MATSA of chicken. Chickens were susceptible to MD virus isolated and propagated in quails.

Deposition of cadmium in tissues of coturnix quail fed honey bees.

Abstract: Insects have been reported to concentrate cadmium probably through food or water intake or by contact with contaminated surfaces. It is conceivable that avian species consuming such insects could concentrate cadmium in their tissues. In the work reported here, domesticated honey bees were found to contain appreciable levels of cadmium. The bees were collected in quantity and fed to Coturnix quail to study the extent to which an avian species may accumulate cadmium in liver and kidney as well as in their eggs.

Development and use of shell-less quail chorio-allantoic-membrane cultures to study developing skeletal tissues; a qualitative study.

Abstract: A technique is described for in vitro culture of the quail embryo from the 1st to the 18th day of development. The embryos are cultured in Teflon hammocks, suspended in glass supports and kept in a humidified atmosphere at 36.5 degrees C. The quail CAM is used as support and cell source for developing non-quail cartilage and bone. The quail cells can be identified histologically and easily recognized by Feulgen-staining which is demonstrated in the presence of quail chondro- or osteoclasts in a mouse long bone rudiment cultured on the CAM.

Bioassay of avian thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Abstract: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) potency was measured as thyroxinereleasing activity in cultured quail thyroid glands, each of which was preincubated with shaking for 2 h in 1 ml of medium 199, pH 7.4, under a constant flow of 95% O2 and 5% CO2 at 37°C. The gland was then incubated for 3 h in 250 μl of the medium, which contained a reference or sample preparation. The thyroxine (T4) concentration in the medium was determined by radioimmunoassay and used as an index of the TSH activity. In this bioassay, 7.8 ƒÊg of acetone-dried chicken pituitary gland (A1D) induced a significant increase in T4 secretion. A linear logdose-response relationship in a dose range between 7.8 and 500 ƒÊg was observed. The precision index of this assay was 0.19. Intraand inter-assay coefficients of variation were 55% and 59%, respectively. Partially purified chicken pituitary glycoprotein showed higher TSH activity than A1D. Bovine TSH also showed TSH activity. Human chorionic gonadotropin showed slight activity. Chicken follicle-stimulating hormone and quail brain extracts both indicated negligible activity. Some pituitary extracts of Columba livia domestica, Melopsittacus undulatus, and Coturnix coturnix japonica showed the same TSH activity as that of chicken. This microbioassay system offers sufficient sensitivity and will be availavle for the specific measurement of avian TSH. Introduction For a comprehensive understanding of the regulation functions of vertebrates via adenohypophyseal hormones, a comparative knowledge of such functions is imperative even for lower vertebrates. One way of obtaining this information is to measure the plasma hormone concentrations of lower vertebrates. Also important is information about hormones and their receptors at the molecular level, and the fluctuations occurring in endogenous hormone levels. Highly purified thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from mammals has already been isolated[1-5]and a radioimmunoassay method has also been developed[6-8]. There are many reports on TSH purification from reptiles[9], amphibians[10] and fish[11]. On the other hand, few reports have been published of studies on avian 佐 藤 恵: Department of Biology, Nikon University school of Dentistry, 1-8-13, Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101, Japan.