Showing papers on "Coturnix published in 1997"

Autoradiographic localization of 2[125I]iodomelatonin binding sites in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals including humans and birds

Abstract: In-vitro autoradiography was utilized to compare the distribution of 2[125I]iodomelatonin binding sites or putative melatonin receptors in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans, guinea pigs, mice, rats, hamsters, rabbits, ducks, chickens, pigeons, and quail. In humans, binding was detected in the mucosa of the colon, caecum, appendix, and on their blood vessels but not in the ileum. In the other mammals, significant binding was only demonstrated in the mucosa of the rabbit rectum, mouse colon, mouse rectum, and guinea pig ileum. The distribution of 2[125I]iodomelatonin binding in the avian gut varied with species. In the esophagus, binding was present in the lamina propria and blood vessels of all four birds. However, only the lamina propria of the chicken and quail proventriculus and ventriculus showed positive binding. For the duodenum and ileum, binding was very strong in the duck lamina propria, weak in the chicken lamina propria, and absent in the quail. In contrast, the pigeon muscle layer was weakly positive. The most striking species difference was found in the caecum where the duck lamina propria showed very strong binding, while the chicken lamina propria was only weakly positive. Conversely, the caecal muscle layer was strongly positive in chicken and quail but negative in duck and pigeon. In the rectum, a similar but less intense pattern of distribution was observed. The tremendous diversity in the distribution of 2[125I]iodomelatonin binding sites in the gastrointestinal tract is in accord with the hypothesis that melatonin may serve different functions in the gut of different species.

Comparative toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls to Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica) and American kestrels (Falco sparverius).

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and related halogenated hydrocarbons bioaccumulate to high concentrations in top predators, such as raptorial birds, yet little is known of PCB toxicity to such species This study explored several aspects of both the acute and chronic response of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) to three purified PCB congeners and a commercial mixture, Aroclor 1254, and compared the response to that of the Japanese quail (Coturnix c japonica), known to be PCB sensitive In both studies, Aroclor 1254 residues accumulated in tissues of both species, but there was no significant relationship between residue levels and effects In conclusion, adult American kestrels were relatively insensitive to the effects of PCBs, from both acute and chronic exposure, on hepatic and renal porphyrin levels Although concentrations of a CYP1A-like protein were increased in some kestrels given PCBs, EROD activity was only marginally increased, suggesting that catalytic activity of this protein differed among the two species 52 refs, 2 figs, 6 tabs

Comparison between oogenesis and related ovarian structures in a reptile, Pseudemys scripta elegans (turtle) and in a bird Coturnix coturnix japonica (quail).

Abstract: The aspect of the oogonia during their premitotic DNA synthesis and of the premeiocytes during their premeiotic DNA synthesis was studied in turtles by autoradiography, after injection of 3H-thymidine. As in the adult laying quail, the intrafollicular oocytes of the adult turtle go through three successive stages: prelampbrush, lampbrush and postlampbrush. During the prelampbrush and lampbrush stage two kinds of nucleoli exist: peripheral and central. In contrast to avian yolk, during its final rapid growth, no polyhedric protein yolk units were found in turtle yolk. As in the yellow yolk of quail, highly osmiophilic alcohol insoluble satellite yolk (egg oil) accumulates between the protein globular yolk of Pseudemys. Turtle yolk globules increase in volume by fusion. The penetration of peripherally assembled yolk in the turtle germinal disc is analogous to what we have described in the quail. Also in postlampbrush germinal discs subcortical ooplasmic organelles are present. Below the turtle germinal disc no structure comparable to the avian nucleus of Pander could be observed. No pyriform cells (as in squamate reptiles) and no pyriform-like cells (as in birds: Callebaut, 1991 b) were found in the chelonian ovarian granulosa layer. We could not demonstrate functional lacunoperitoneal communications via openings in the hilus ovarii of the turtle as is the case in birds.

Influence of dietary cholesterol and fat source on atherosclerosis in the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract: The Japanese quail has been used as a model of human atherosclerosis to investigate the mechanisms underlying the development of vascular lesions, ie hyperlipoproteinaemia and impaired endogenous antioxidant status In the present study, Japanese quail were fed on semi-purified diets containing butter, beef tallow or soyabean-oil blends, with either 05 or 5 g cholesterol/kg for 9 weeks to examine the effects of dietary fat blends varying in fatty acid composition and cholesterol intake on plasma lipids and aortic atherosclerotic plaque and sterol composition These findings were related to possible diet-induced changes in antioxidant status of selected tissues Hypercholesterolaemia was confirmed (P < 0001) in birds fed on high-cholesterol (HC) diets Plasma total cholesterol concentration and cholesterol content of lipoprotein fractions in hypercholesterolaemic birds were lower (P < 005) in quail fed on the soyabean-oil blend Plasma triacylglycerol content was increased (P < 0001) in HC-fed birds Dietary fat blends did not influence plasma triacylglycerol levels Tissue antioxidant status (catalase (EC 11116), glutathione peroxidase (EC 11119), glutathione reductase (EC 1641) and superoxide dismutase (EC 11511) activities and glutathione content) was generally not greatly affected by dietary fat blend or cholesterol treatment Birds fed on HC diets exhibited severe (P < 0001) atherosclerotic plaque in aortas which was not influenced by the source of dietary fat blend Scanning electron microscopy confirmed results of visual aortic plaque scoring using dissecting light microscopy Several cholesterol oxides were identified and quantified in aortic plaque from HC-fed birds (5,6 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha-cholesterol, 7(beta-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol) regardless of dietary fat blend The results indicate that dietary fat blends varying in polyunsaturated:saturated fatty acid ratios only marginally influence the degree of hypercholesterolaemia in atherosclerosis-susceptible quail fed on atherogenic diets only, and are not a factor, compared with sterol feeding, in modulating the degree of atherosclerosis or the aortic oxysterol content in these same birds Moreover, diet-induced hyperlipoproteinaemia had only a small effect on antioxidant status of selected tissues examined

Effect of growth rate and body mass on resting metabolic rate in galliform chicks

Abstract: In this study, we asked whether within-species variation in chick resting metabolic rate was related to variation in growth and whether this relationship changed during development in three galliform species (turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, guinea fowl, Numida meleagris, and Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica). Resting metabolic rate increased by a bi- or triphasic pattern with body mass. For each phase, the relationship between metabolic rate and growth was studied by residual analysis, with two measures of growth: growth rate and body mass. Chick mass reflects the net result of accumulated growth, while hatchling mass reflects embryonic growth. In hatchlings, high metabolic rates coincided with low growth rates in turkeys and guinea fowl. These species delay initial food intake, and under these circumstances high metabolic expenditure may preclude conversion of yolk energy into body mass. No relationship was present between residual hatching metabolic rate and residual body mass. In older chicks, residual metabolic rate was positively linearly related with residual growth rate (turkeys and young quail) or residual body mass (guinea fowl and older quail). The similarity of the slopes suggests that growth rate and accumulated growth affected maintenance metabolism to the same extent throughout development. These findings suggest that growth models must take ontogenetic adjustments of metabolic rate into account in addition to costs of maintenance.

Effects of vasotocin on aggressive behavior in male Japanese quail.

Abstract: In birds the neurohypophyseal peptide arginine vasotocin (VT) has been implicated in reproductive behavior' and learning2 Arginine vasopressin (VP), the mammalian pituitary peptide considered homologous to VT, has a similar role in mammalian behaviol3 and is known to influence the outcome of aggressive interactions. Blocking VP in voles3 and hamsters4 inhibits aggression. In hamsters, VP plays an intricate role in aggressively determined dominance relationships, and VP immunoreactivity is much greater in the brain of dominants than subordinates? Although the relation between aggression and VP in mammals is complex, overall a positive correlation seems to exist between VP activity and aggression. Although VP and VT are functionally similar, VT involvement in avian aggression has not previously been reported. The purpose of the present study was (1) to assess the effects of central VT on intermale aggression in birds, and (2) to determine the possible effects of VT injected during an initial encounter on later social interactions between untreated familiar and unfamiliar birds. Twenty-four pairs of unfamiliar adult male Japanese quail were tested. Pairs consisted of males displaying similar levels of pecking at other birds in previous interactions. On day 1, one member of each pair received an intracerebroventricular injection of 1 kg arginine vasotocin, while the other bird was injected with saline solution. Injections were made through the skull at the midline anterior to the cerebellum into the region of the third ventricle using a syringe with a stopper placed 6 mm from the tip. This method was previously used to inject domestic chicks: and in the present experiment dye injections performed after testing indicated that injections spread throughout the ventricular system. Ten minutes after injection birds were placed together into an arena, and head shaking, feather ruffling (behaviors associated with central pituitary peptide action in birds5), and pecking were measured for the first 5 minutes by an observer blind to conditions. On day 2 there were no injections, and two successive tests were conducted. All birds were paired with both the familiar bird from day 1 and an unfamiliar bird that had received the same treatment as the familiar bird on the first day. Pecking was measured for 5 minutes for each pair, with pairings counterbalanced and separated by 3 hours. For each pair, birds that pecked 25% or more than their opponents were considered dominant.

Demonstration, localization, and development of galanin receptors in the quail oviduct

Abstract: We recently isolated an oviposition-inducing peptide that was identified as avian galanin from the oviducts of the Japanese quail. Avian galanin was localized in neural fibers distributed in muscle layers in the uterine and vaginal oviduct regions, and potentiated spontaneous contractions of the uterus and vagina. To elucidate whether an oviposition-inducing effect of avian galanin is due to the direct action on the oviduct, therefore, a specific binding site for avian galanin was determined in the functional quail oviduct in this study. The binding of [125I]iodoavian galanin was primarily located in the oviduct as well as the brain. The galanin binding was specifically inhibited as a function of the concentrations of both avian and rat galanins. The specific binding of avian galanin to the quail oviduct was temperature dependent and reached the maximum level for 1 h at 20 degrees C. In several regions of the oviduct, a higher level of specific galanin binding was observed only in the uterus and vagina. In contrast, the specific binding was low in the isthmus and negligible in the magnum. A similar localization was evident in the functional chicken oviduct. The Scatchard plot analysis of the binding of avian galanin to the uterine preparation revealed that the dissociation constant (Kd) was 0.249 (95% confidence interval, 0.192-0.356) nM, and the number of binding sites was 1.13 (0.99-1.36) fmol per mg tissue, respectively. During development, the galanin-binding sites were apparent in the quail oviduct at 3 weeks of age and the number of binding sites markedly increased between 3 weeks and 3 months of age. However, there was no significant change in the Kd value in the developing quail oviduct. This is the first demonstration of the presence of galanin receptors in the reproductive tract, such as the uterine and vaginal oviduct. The present results suggest that the number of galanin receptors in the oviduct increases during development and that galanin acts directly on the mature uterus and vagina to induce their contractions. This mechanism may be essential to the avian oviposition.

Lipoprotein and apoprotein profiles of hyperlipidemic atherosclerosis-prone Japanese quail.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterize the lipoprotein and apoprotein profiles of hyperlipidemic atherosclerosis-prone (HAP) Japanese quail. HAP and commercially available (CA) Japanese quail were fed either a semi-purified diet containing 1% cholesterol or a cholesterol-free diet for two weeks. The lipoproteins of CA and HAP quail fed cholesterol-free diet were composed of two fractions: densities ranging from 1.02 to 1.09 and from 1.09 to 1.21. The lipoprotein distribution patterns obtained from both strains showed an HDL-predominant pattern. A protein of 26 kDa was the major apoprotein in the entire density range of the lipoprotein class. Marked increases in the cholesterol ester levels were observed in the lower density fractions (1.006 < d < 1.055: chylomicron and VLDL fractions) of the cholesterol-fed quail, accounting for 46% of the total lipids in CA quail and 54% in HAP quail. In addition, the presence of a protein of 470 kDa was exclusively observed in the lower density fractions (1.006 < d < 1.055) of the cholesterol-fed HAP quail. The fatty-acid compositions of the chylomicron and VLDL fractions were affected by the dietary cholesterol in both strains: a decrease in concentration of 16: 0 and increase in 18: 0 (weight %). However, cholesterol feeding had no effect on the level of cholesterol, chemical composition or fatty-acid composition of the HDL fractions in either strain. Although the lipoprotein and apoprotein profiles of HAP quail showed resemblances to those of the CA quail, expression of the 470 kDa protein in the lipoproteins (d < 1.055) appeared to be pronounced in HAP quail. The relevance of these lipoprotein and apoprotein profiles to the genesis of atherosclerosis was discussed in this study.

Changes in protein and electrolyte concentrations in the pectoral and leg muscles during Avian development

Abstract: -The development of functional capacity of skeletal muscle proceeds more rapidly in precocial than in altricial birds and more rapidly in leg than in pectoral muscles. To determine whether protein accumulation and electrolyte differentiation proceed in parallel with functional development, we examined changes in protein (lipid-free dry mass, LFDM), K+ concentrations, and Na+ concentrations in pectoral and leg muscles during postnatal development in altricial European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) and precocial Japanese Quail (Coturnix c. japonica) and Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus). Proportion of LFDM in pectoral muscle had a similar pattern of increase in the three species during development, whereas the proportion in leg muscle was slightly higher in bobwhites than in the other two species during the first two weeks. Concentrations of K+ increased and Na+ decreased during development. [K+] exceeded [Na+] for the first time at 4 to 8 days for pectoral muscle and 2 to 8 days for leg muscle in starlings, and at about 5 days for pectoral muscle and 1 to 2 days for leg muscle in quail. Electrolyte concentrations approached adult levels at 13 to 16 days in starlings and 8 to 11 days in both quail. These ages preceded fledging in starlings and first flight in quail by 4 to 6 days. In neonates of each species, the proportion of LFDM was 3 to 5% higher in leg muscle than in pectoral muscle; adult levels of LFDM were achieved 3 to 7 days earlier in leg muscle. Differentiation of the two electrolytes (i.e. crossing of [K+] and [Na+] curves) occurred 2 to 4 days earlier in leg muscle than in pectoral muscle, especially for quail. These results indicate that compositional development of muscle parallels functional development of precocity during postnatal growth. Because the production and maintenance of proteins and the differentiation of electrolytes require metabolic energy expenditure, chemical maturity may compete with growth rate for allocation of energy and nutrients. Received 16 September 1996, accepted 13 May 1997. PROTEINS AND ELECTROLYTES are important chemical bases for the contractile and conductive apparatus of skeletal muscle. Because animals exhibit significant functional development during their postnatal growth, concentrations of these chemicals must change with increasing functional capacity. Previous studies have revealed that protein contents and excitability of skeletal muscles increase dramatically during the early growth period in mammals and birds (Moulton 1923, Dickerson 1960, Hazlewood and Nichols 1969). For instance, in the pectoral muscle of cockerels (domestic fowl), fibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins increase 3E-mail: ichoi@dragon.yonsei.ac.kr 4Present address: Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63121, USA. more than 2-fold during the first month of growth (Dickerson 1960). Excitability of muscle fibers, indicated by resting membrane potential, increases more than 3-fold in the rat gastrocnemius (Hazlewood and Nichols 1969) and is known to be established by differential partitioning of electrolytes (e.g. potassium and sodium) across the cell membrane (Vernadakis and Woodbury 1964, Hazlewood and Nichols 1969, Park et al. 1981, Ward and Wareham 1985). The age at which concentrations of proteins and electrolytes reach mature levels has been called the point of "chemical maturation" (Moulton 1923). Although previous studies have described ontogenic patterns of the chemical composition of muscle tissue, few data relate variation in the processes of chemical maturation to variation in the rate of development of functional capacity.