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Coturnix
About: Coturnix is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 953 publications have been published within this topic receiving 23305 citations.
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TL;DR: It would appear that testosterone can act on rhythmicity on at least two levels: by inducing the circadian rhythm and increasing its clarity and by modulating its period.
Abstract: Studies in vertebrates have shown that hormones can influence circadian rhythms of behavior. We investigated whether testosterone could induce rhythmicity in arrhythmic Japanese quail, kept in DD. The animals used were 3 1/2-week-old castrated males from a line of quail selected for the lack of the circadian rhythm of feeding activity. After 3 weeks in DD, 8 birds were implanted with an empty implant and 16 others with a testosterone implant. Two weeks later, the operation was repeated. After implantation, we noticed that 15 out of 16 testosterone-treated birds showed a circadian rhythm of feeding activity, in contrast to the control birds, which remained arrhythmic. The clarity of this rhythm increased significantly after each implantation. A positive correlation was found between the indexes of clarity of the rhythm (autocorrelation coefficient ratio and area of the peak of spectrum) and the plasma testosterone level. The period of the induced free-running rhythm was identical to the specific value of the endogenous circadian rhythm in immature quail. The circadian period showed a significant lengthening with the second implantation. This lengthening looks like the variation previously observed in maturing rhythmic or implanted quail. So, it would appear that testosterone can act on rhythmicity on at least two levels: by inducing the circadian rhythm and increasing its clarity and by modulating its period. To explain these results, several hypotheses can be considered. First, the observed arrhythmy may be the consequence of an internal desynchronization of oscillators, responsible for generating the circadian rhythm of feeding activity, and testosterone could play a role in the coupling of these oscillators. Alternatively, we suggest that testosterone could act on the transcription of genes implicated in the control of the rhythmicity or may regulate by rapid signals the cellular rhythmic activity. The possible functional values of the enhancing of circadian rhythmicity by testosterone at different stages of the bird's life were discussed.
17 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that retinoic acid has a stimulating effect on the reproductive system of female Japanese quail, as has been previously shown in the sexual development and egg production of male Japanese quails.
Abstract: The effects of retinoic acid on the development of reproductive organs and egg production in female Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were investigated. Female quail were fed a diet containing retinoic acid at 4 mg/kg (RA) or two diets containing retinyl acetate at 5000 IU/kg (VA1) or 14 000 IU/kg (VA2) after being fed a vitamin A-free diet for 2 wk (experiment 1). The oviduct and ovary grew more rapidly (P < 0.05) in RA-treated quail than in VA-treated quail at 5 wk of age. In addition, the body weight of RA-fed quail was also greater (P: < 0.05) than that of VA-fed quail at 5 wk. The RA-treated quail laid their first eggs approximately 5 days earlier (P < 0.05) than the VA-treated quail. Furthermore, these RA-fed quail laid more eggs (P < 0.05) than those VA-fed quail during the experimental period. To confirm the results of experiment 1, a similar experiment was conducted to record the first egg and total eggs laid by quail fed VA2 or RA (experiment 2). The early onset of oviposition was again observed in the RA-treated group (P < 0.01). These results suggest that retinoic acid has a stimulating effect on the reproductive system of female Japanese quail, as has been previously shown in the reproductive system of male Japanese quail.
17 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that both biochanin A and ferulic acid exert inhibiting influences on the reproductive behavior of Coturnix.
Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the effects of two dietary compounds, biochanin A and ferulic acid, on the reproductive performance of Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix . These compounds may be present in the diet of wild birds during dry years or at the end of the growing season during normal years. Four treatment groups, each fed a diet supplemented with biochanin A or ferulic acid, and a control group were tested for morphological and behavioral effects before, during and after treatment. Fertility and hatchability data were collected during treatment only. Ferulic acid was shown to inhibit male copulatory behavior during treatment. Biochanin A inhibited male copulatory behavior during and after treatment. Neither drug affected female copulatory behavior though egg-laying was inhibited by the low dose of biochanin A. Ferulic acid significantly reduced the hatchability of eggs. Biochanin A increased the fertility of males and the hatchability of eggs fertilized by them. A correlation between results of this study and natural conditions of reproduction is discussed. It is concluded that both biochanin A and ferulic acid exert inhibiting influences on the reproductive behavior of Coturnix .
17 citations
TL;DR: Physiological manifestations of social stress in stable and unstable pairs of adult male Japanese quail were compared and plasma cholesterol was increased significantly in unstable pairs, and adrenal cholesterol was reduced significantly by daily regrouping of unstable pairs.
17 citations
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: DiazaConTM application over a very short time results in long-lasting contraceptive effects, an advantage for target species, but a disadvantage for nontarget species, and care must be taken to determine what nontargets are present and how best to avoid them.
Abstract: Due to increasing human-wildlife conflicts with birds and growing opposition to lethal techniques, nonlethal methods need to be developed to help manage bird populations DiazaConTM is a promising oral contraceptive that acts by directly inhibiting the conversion of desmosterol to cholesterol Because cholesterol is essential for the production of the steroid reproductive hormones testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol, DiazaConTM also indirectly inhibits the formation of these hormones These hormones are essential for sperm and egg production, and the production of egg yolk precursors in the liver Because DiazaConTM is cleared slowly from the liver, its contraceptive effects are long-lasting Initial research with Coturnix quail (Coturnix coturnix) helped determine DiazaCon’s mechanism of action Further research showed efficacy in monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) Brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater), American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and ring-necked doves (Streptopelia risoria) were also studied as potential candidates for DiazaConTM contraception Mallards and ring-necked doves were used as model species for Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and pigeons (Columba livia), respectively DiazaConTM application over a very short time results in long-lasting contraceptive effects, an advantage for target species, but a disadvantage for nontarget species Care must be taken when delivering DiazaConTM to determine what nontargets are present and how best to avoid them Timing of delivery is also critical to ensure maximal reproductive effects, and information on the reproductive cycles of the species of interest is needed
17 citations