Showing papers on "Coturnix published in 2002"
TL;DR: The residue of aflatoxins in the liver, muscle and eggs of laying ducks, hens and quails and in broiler chickens was examined by conducting 7-day feeding experiments with a diet containing 3 ppm Aflatoxin B1.
Abstract: The residue of aflatoxins in the liver, muscle and eggs of laying ducks, hens and quails and in broiler chickens was examined by conducting 7-day feeding experiments with a diet containing 3 ppm Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Birds were sacrificed on the 8th or 11th day of AFB1 feeding. AFB1 and its metabolites in the tissues and eggs were determined by HPLC. The tissue levels of AFB1 and its metabolites were higher in quail than in the other birds. The levels of AFB1 and its metabolites, including acid-hydrolyzable metabolites, were more than 10-fold higher in the liver than in the muscle in all the species. The ratio of AFB1 in the feed to the residual level in the liver was 383 in quail, but was > or = 5769 in the other birds. The corresponding ratios in the egg yolk and albumen of AFB1 were 4615 and 3846, respectively, in chicken hens, and these values were higher than those in the other birds.
113 citations
TL;DR: The microsatellite markers reported would serve as a useful resource base for genetic mapping in quail and comparative mapping in Phasianidae and cross-species amplification of all the markers was tested with chicken and guinea fowl DNA.
Abstract: In line with the Gifu University's initiative to map the Japanese quail genome, a total of 100 Japanese quail microsatellite markers isolated in our laboratory were evaluated in a population of 20 unrelated quails randomly sampled from a colony of wild quail origin. Ninety-eight markers were polymorphic with an average of 3.7 alleles per locus and a mean heterozygosity of 0.423. To determine the utility of these markers for comparative genome mapping in Phasianidae, cross-species amplification of all the markers was tested with chicken and guinea fowl DNA. Amplification products similar in size to the orthologous loci in quail were observed in 42 loci in chicken and 20 loci in guinea fowl. Of the cross-reactive markers, 57.1% in chicken and 55.0% in guinea fowl were polymorphic when tested in 20 birds from their respective populations. Five of 15 markers that could cross-amplify Japanese quail, chicken, and guinea fowl DNA were polymorphic in all three species. Amplification of orthologous loci was confirmed by sequencing 10 loci each from chicken and guinea fowl and comparing with them the corresponding quail sequence. The microsatellite markers reported would serve as a useful resource base for genetic mapping in quail and comparative mapping in Phasianidae.
87 citations
TL;DR: Lead shot in the highest of these doses lowered asymptotic weights, increased hematocrits, lowered plasma protein, and increased granulocyte numbers of quail.
Abstract: Exposure to the combination of a contaminant and an immunological challenge during development may greatly increase the impact of either or both of these stressors on an individual. This study investigated the interacting effects of a nonpathogenic immunological challenge and lead shot exposure early in the development of a precocial species. Seventy-one quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks orally received either one #9 lead shot (0.05 g), four lead shots (0.2 g), or no lead at the age of 8 days. A third of each of these groups of chicks were intraperitoneally injected with either 0.075 ml of 10% chukar (Alectoris graeca) red blood cells (CRBCs), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), or a placebo oil vaccine at 13 and 35 days of age. There was no difference in the survival between any of the lead or antigen treatment groups. Lead concentrations in blood were greater for the lead-dosed groups on day 49 but not on day 128. Growth curves were approximated by Weibull functions; growth parameters did not differ between lead-treated and antigen-treated birds. CRBC antigen increases fluctuating asymmetry (FA) for primary feather five, while NDV reduced FA. Lead did not affect antibody production or cell-mediated immune response. White blood cell numbers increased 7 days after antigen injection on days 27 and 49 of age. Granulocyte numbers were significantly higher for the lead-treated quail than the control quail, and both antigen-treated groups had lower granulocyte numbers than control quail. The treatment groups of combining NDV and lead shot had an average plasma protein 14% lower than other groups. Lead shot in the highest of these doses lowered asymptotic weights, increased hematocrits, lowered plasma protein, and increased granulocyte numbers of quail.
85 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation at various levels (0, 200, 400, 800 or 1200 microg/kg of diet) on egg production, egg quality and serum concentrations of insulin, corticosterone and glucose in laying Japanese quail reared under conditions of heat stress (32.5 degrees C).
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the effects of Cr (chromium picolinate, CrPic) supplementation at various levels (0, 200, 400, 800 or 1200 microg/kg of diet) on egg production, egg quality and serum concentrations of insulin, corticosterone and glucose in laying Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japanica) reared under conditions of heat stress (32.5 degrees C). Laying Japanese quail (n = 150; 45 d old) were divided into five groups of 30 birds. The quail were fed either a control diet containing 965 microg Cr/kg diet or the control diet supplemented with 200, 400, 800 or 1200 microg of Cr/kg diet. Increased supplemental chromium increased body weight (P = 0.05, linear), feed intake (P = 0.05, linear), egg production (P = 0.01, linear) and also improved feed efficiency (P = 0.01, linear). Increased supplemental chromium linearly increased egg weight (P = 0.01), eggshell thickness, egg specific gravity (P = 0.05) and Haugh unit (P = 0.01). Serum insulin concentration increased linearly (P = 0.01), whereas corticosterone and glucose concentration decreased linearly (P = 0.05) as dietary chromium increased. The best results were obtained with 1200 microg Cr/kg diet, and chromium supplementation at such a level can be considered to be protective management practice in a quail diet, reducing the negative effects of heat stress.
83 citations
TL;DR: Within a threefold range of r(H(2))O(e), little error in the DLW method is made when assuming one single x value of 0.25 (recommended by Speakman JR, Doubly Labelled Water), indicating its robustness in comparative studies.
Abstract: In Japanese quail (Coturnix c. japonica; n = 9), the doubly labeled water (DLW) method (2H, 18O) for estimation of CO2 production (l/day) was validated. To evaluate its sensitivity to water efflux ...
57 citations
TL;DR: The results of these studies indicate that developmental exposures to environmental chemicals with hormonal activities produce undesirable behaviors that may affect population dynamics and survivability of exposed species.
57 citations
TL;DR: Cloning Japanese quail homologs of mammalian Crys led the authors to propose that in the circadian system, qCRYs may play important roles similar to the known roles of CRYs of other species, such as acting as circadian photoreceptors and as components of the circadianSystem.
Abstract: The circadian system is thought to have three components: input, pacemaker (internal clock), and output. Cryptochromes (Cry) are important clock genes, and recent findings indicate that these genes not only act as circadian photoreceptors but are also essential components in the negative feedback of the circadian system. As a first step toward understanding the avian circadian system, the authors tried to clone Japanese quail homologs of mammalian Crys and analyze their expression patterns in different circumstances. Partial cDNAs of qCry1 and qCry2, which are homologs of mammalian Cry1 and Cry2, respectively, were obtained and their gene expressions were analyzed. Both qCry1 and qCry2 mRNAs were present in all the tissues examined. The oscillation patterns of the qCry1 transcripts were tissue specific and generally showed robust changes between daytime and nighttime; except for lung and testis tissues (which showed no detectable changes between daytime and nighttime), daytime levels were higher in all of the tissues examined. This rapid oscillation in qCry1 persisted through constant darkness or constant illumination, indicating that an endogenous clock controls these changes. In contrast, the expression of qCry2 did not oscillate in any tissue examined. In addition, in tissues of the pineal gland and eye, unexpected light exposure in the dark period was able to block the decrease in qCry1 transcripts or induce its expression. These findings, in conjunction with the established roles of CRYs in other species, led the authors to propose that in the circadian system, qCRYs may play important roles similar to the known roles of CRYs of other species, such as acting as circadian photoreceptors and as components of the circadian system.
52 citations
TL;DR: Serological, bacteriological and PCR examinations were carried out concerning microbes that are known to cause swollen heads in birds and suggest that the high levels of ammonia fumes promoted infection and multiplication of M. gallisepticum and Cryptosporidium sp.
Abstract: On a farm raising approximately 75,000 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) for egg production, the diseased quail showed clinical signs of swelling of the head, nasal discharge, increased lacrimation, and decreased egg production. The flock experienced a mortality rate of 5.7% per day. Macroscopic observation revealed large, gelatinous masses of caseous exudate in the sinuses, egg peritonitis, and airsacculitis. Microscopically, non-purulent or purulent inflammation accompanied by lymphoid hyperplastic tissue with germinal centers was observed in the oculofacial respiratory mucosa. The developing stage of the lesions was abscess formation. In the investigation of pathogens, antigens to Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Pasteurella multocida serotype D were immunolabeled on and demonstrated in the mucosal membranes. In addition, P. multocida, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., and Streptococcus sp. were isolated from the infraorbital sinuses, and Mycoplasma isolated from a diseased bird was confirmed as M. gallisepticum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, Cryptosporidium sp. was frequently found in the brush border. Serological, bacteriological and PCR examinations, some with negative outcomes, were carried out concerning microbes that are known to cause swollen heads in birds (Haemophilus paragallinarum, Newcastle disease virus and turkey rhinotracheitis virus). The average concentration of ammonia fumes in the cages was 30.6 parts/106, which suggests that the high levels of ammonia fumes promoted infection and multiplication of M. gallisepticum in the quail, and that the clinical disease then worsened due to mixed infection with M. gallisepticum and Cryptosporidium sp. or other bacteria.
40 citations
TL;DR: The blue-breasted quail mtDNA was found to be a circular DNA of 16,687 base pairs with the same genomic structure as the mtDNAs of Japanese quails and chicken, though it is smaller than Japanese quail and chicken mt DNAs by 10 bp and 88 bp, respectively.
Abstract: Coturnix chinensis (blue-breasted quail) has been classically grouped in Galliformes Phasianidae Coturnix, based on morphologic features and biochemical evidence. Since the blue-breasted quail has the smallest body size among the species of Galliformes, in addition to a short generation time and an excellent reproductive performance, it is a possible model fowl for breeding and physiological studies of the Coturnix japonica (Japanese quail) and Gallus gallus domesticus (chicken), which are classified in the same family as blue-breasted quail. However, since its phylogenetic position in the family Phasianidae has not been determined conclusively, the sequence of the entire blue-breasted quail mitochondria (mt) genome was obtained to provide genetic information for phylogenetic analysis in the present study. The blue-breasted quail mtDNA was found to be a circular DNA of 16,687 base pairs (bp) with the same genomic structure as the mtDNAs of Japanese quail and chicken, though it is smaller than Japanese quail and chicken mtDNAs by 10 bp and 88 bp, respectively. The sequence identity of all mitochondrial genes, including those for 12S and 16S ribosomal RNAs, between blue-breasted quail and Japanese quail ranged from 84.5% to 93.5%; between blue-breasted quail and chicken, sequence identity ranged from 78.0% to 89.6%. In order to obtain information on the phylogenetic position of blue-breasted quail in Galliformes Phasianidae, the 2,184 bp sequence comprising NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 and cytochrome b genes available for eight species in Galliformes [Japanese quail, chicken, Gallus varius (green junglefowl), Bambusicola thoracica (Chinese bamboo partridge), Pavo cristatus (Indian peafowl), Perdix perdix (gray partridge), Phasianus colchicus (ring-neck pheasant), and Tympanchus phasianellus (sharp-tailed grouse)] together with that of Aythya americana (redhead) were examined using a maximum likelihood (ML) method. The ML analyses on the first/ second codon positions, the third codon positions, and amino acid sequence consistently demonstrated that blue-breasted quail and Japanese quail are in the same phylogenetic cluster.
40 citations
TL;DR: The effects of aurofusarin in the quail diet on the antioxidant systems of the developing embryo are investigated in this paper, where 30-day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were divided into two groups and were fed on a corn-soya diet or the same diet supplemented with AO-Fusarin at the level of 26.4 mg/kg feed in the form of Fusarium graminearum culture enriched with OO.
Abstract: The effects of aurofusarin in the quail diet on the antioxidant systems of the developing embryo are investigated. Thirty eight 45-day-old Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were divided into two groups and were fed on a corn-soya diet or the same diet supplemented with aurofusarin at the level of 26.4 mg/kg feed in the form of Fusarium graminearum culture enriched with aurofusarin. Eggs obtained after 7 weeks of feeding were incubated. Samples of quail tissues were collected at day 17 of embryonic development and from day old hatchlings. Antioxidants and malondialdehyde were analysed by HPLC-based methods. Inclusion of aurofusarin in the maternal diet was associated with decreased concentrations of alpha- and gamma-tocopherols, alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols, retinol, lutein and zeaxanthin in egg yolk. The vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols) concentration in the liver and yolk sac membrane (YSM) of the day 17 embryos and the hatchlings from aurofusarin-fed group was significantly decreased. Alpha-tocopherol concentration was also reduced in kidney, lung, heart, muscle and brain of day-old quails. In the liver of day-old quails, concentrations of lutein, zeaxanthin, retinol, retinyl linoleate, retinyl oleate, retinyl palmitate and retinyl stearate were also reduced. As a result of these diminished antioxidant concentrations, tissue susceptibility to lipid peroxidation was significantly increased. It is suggested that a compromised antioxidant system of the egg yolk and embryonic tissues could predispose quails to increased mortality at late stages of their embryonic development.
30 citations
TL;DR: The restoration by T of the VT immunoreactivity in castrated male quail could be fully mimicked by a treatment with estradiol (E(2), suggesting that the aromatization of T into E(2) may play a key limiting role in both the activation of male sexual behavior and the induction of VT synthesis.
Abstract: Vasotocin (VT; the antidiuretic hormone of birds) is synthesized by diencephalic magnocellular neurons projecting to the neurohypophysis. A sexually dimorphic system of VT-immunoreactive (ir) parvocellular elements has been described within the male medial preoptic nucleus (POM) and the nucleus of the stria terminalis, pars medialis (BSTm). VT-ir fibers are present in many diencephalic and extradiencephalic locations, and quantitative morphometric analyses demonstrated their sexually dimorphic distribution in regions involved in the control of different aspects of reproduction. Moreover, systemic or intracerebroventricular injections of VT markedly inhibit the expression of some aspects of male sexual behavior. In adult animals, circulating levels of testosterone (T) have a profound influence on the VT immunoreactivity within BSTm, POM, and lateral septum. Castration markedly decreases the immunoreaction, whereas T-replacement therapy restores a situation similar to the intact birds. We observed no changes in gonadectomized females treated with T. These changes parallel similar changes in male copulatory behavior (not present in castrated male quail, fully expressed in castrated, T-treated males). The restoration by T of the VT immunoreactivity in castrated male quail could be fully mimicked by a treatment with estradiol (E(2)), suggesting that the aromatization of T into E(2) may play a key limiting role in both the activation of male sexual behavior and the induction of VT synthesis. This dimorphism has an organizational nature: administration of E(2) to quail embryos (a treatment that abolishes male sexual behavior) results in a dramatic decrease of the VT immunoreactivity in sexually dimorphic regions. Conversely, the inhibition of E(2) synthesis during embryonic life (a treatment that stimulates the expression of male copulatory behavior in treated females exposed in adulthood to T) results in a malelike distribution of VT immunoreactivity. The VT parvocellular system of the Japanese quail can therefore be considered an accurate marker of the sexual differentiation of brain circuits mediating copulatory behavior and could be a very sensitive indicator of the activity of estrogenlike substances on neural circuits.
TL;DR: It was clear that transient and continuous administration of melatonin increased the cellular and humoral immune responses of Japanese quail without prior immunosuppression, suggesting that the immunoenhancing effect ofmelatonin is not limited to reconstitution of weakened immune systems, but can be observed in normal, immunologically unsuppressed birds.
TL;DR: Atrazine contamination of foods appears to adversely influence nutritional well-being and body fat content and Glyphosate appears not to impact body masses and fat masses.
Abstract: A test on how the herbicides Atrazine and Glyphosate affect nutritional well-being of Japanese quail (Coturnix quail japonica) was run. Individual quail were fed control, Atrazine or Glyphosate-treated food with concentrations as follows: food was treated with Atrazine or Glyphosate at 1-fold, 4-fold, or 10-fold estimated concentrations or spilled grain that label concentrations of the herbicides would produce. These treatments corresponded to 347, 1388, or 3470 ppm of the active ingredients of each herbicide. Each treatment group had 10 individually penned quail. Twelve controls were used. Amounts of each food consumed were recorded for each quail. Data from controls were compared against both Atrazine-treated and Glyphosate-treated food groups as all treatments were run simultaneously. Quail fed Atrazine-treated food had reduced (P<0.05) body masses for all 3 Atrazine treatments. Body fat content was reduced (P<0.05) in 4-fold and 10-fold treatments in comparison to body fat content of quail fed Glyphosate-treated food and to controls. Atrazine contamination of foods appears to adversely influence nutritional well-being and body fat content. Glyphosate appears not to impact body masses and fat masses.
TL;DR: The data suggest that the microchromosome-specific highly repetitive sequences of the blue-breasted quail and chicken were derived from a common ancestral sequence, and that they are one of the major and essential components of chromosomal heterochromatin in Galliformes species.
Abstract: A new family of centromeric highly repetitive DNA sequences was isolated from EcoRI-digested genomic DNA of the blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis, Galliformes), and characterized by filter hybridization and chromosome in situ hybridization. The repeated elements were divided into two types by nucleotide length and chromosomal distribution; the 578-bp element predominantly localized to microchromosomes and the 1,524-bp element localized to chromosomes 1 and 2. The 578-bp element represented tandem arrays and did not hybridize to genomic DNAs of other Galliformes species, chicken (Gallus gallus), Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). On the other hand, the 1,524-bp element was not organized in tandem arrays, and did hybridize to the genomic DNAs of three other Galliformes species, suggesting that the 1,524-bp element is highly conserved in the Galliformes. The 578-bp element was composed of basic 20-bp internal repeats, and the consensus nucleotide sequence of the internal repeats had homologies to the 41-42 bp CNM repeat and the XHOI family repeat of chicken. Our data suggest that the microchromosome-specific highly repetitive sequences of the blue-breasted quail and chicken were derived from a common ancestral sequence, and that they are one of the major and essential components of chromosomal heterochromatin in Galliformes species.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Results of studying effects of spaceflight factors on the adrenal structure in Japanese quail hatchlings incubated and kept alive 4 to 5 days aboard the space station Mir show accumulation of fat drops evidences lowered cholesterol transformation and disturbed genesis of steroids.
Abstract: The paper presents results of studying effects of spaceflight factors on the adrenal structure in Japanese quail hatchlings (Coturnix coturnix japonica) incubated and kept alive 4 to 5 days aboard the space station Mir. In comparison with the ground controls, cortical cells in the adrenals of space hatchlings contained copious fat drops, mitochondrias, and significantly dilated cisterns of the endoplasmic reticulum. Accumulation of fat drops evidences lowered cholesterol transformation and disturbed genesis of steroids. Cytoplasm of the medullar chromaffin cells was full of dark large granules; some of these cells also had enlarged mitochondrias and dilated endoplasmic reticulum cisterns.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In case of acute hypoxic hypoxia argon in the gas environment is favorable to survivability of laboratory animals (rats). as mentioned in this paper evaluated effects of an argon-containing hypoxic gas environment on embryogenesis of the Japanese quail (Cortunix cortunix japonica).
Abstract: In case of acute hypoxic hypoxia argon in the gas environment is favorable to survivability of laboratory animals (rats). Our purpose was to evaluate effects of an argon-containing hypoxic gas environment on embryogenesis of the Japanese quail (Cortunix cortunix japonica). Eggs of the Japanese quail were incubated in a pressurized chamber with a hypoxic gas environment differing in concentration of nitrogen and argon. In hypoxic (10% O2) oxygen-nitrogen and oxygen-nitrogen-argon atmospheres total mortality of embryos was observed no later than on day 7 of development. These gas mixtures also had a teratogenic effect. However, about 55% of argon in atmosphere prevented completely microcephalia and reduced in half incidence of other pathologies.
TL;DR: The persistence of PMSG in quail plasma has implications for the use of the hormone in future regimes stimulating reproductive activity in birds.
Abstract: Pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) is currently being used to develop a hormone regime that will stimulate reproductive development in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). In this study, the persistence of PMSG in quail plasma was examined after a single injection of the hormone (500 IU). Plasma concentrations of PMSG increased to a peak 12 h after injection and declined to approximately 50% of peak concentrations 24 h after injection. Pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin concentrations declined gradually thereafter and had not returned to basal levels by 96 h after injection. Cloacal diameter, and ovarian and oviducal mass, had increased significantly by 96 h after injection. The persistence of PMSG in quail plasma has implications for the use of the hormone in future regimes stimulating reproductive activity in birds.