Coturnix

About: Coturnix is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 953 publications have been published within this topic receiving 23305 citations.

Influence of hydrocolloidal silver nanoparticles on gastrointestinal microflora and morphology of enterocytes of quails.

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of hydrocolloidal silver nanoparticles (Ag-nano) on microbial profile of caecum and morphology of enterocytes in duodenum of Japanese quail, as a model animal for poultry. Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) (10 d old) were randomly divided into four groups (15 quails each) and located into four cages for 12 days. Quails were fed with granulated diets given ad libitum and had free access to drinking water. Ag-nano were added to drinking water at concentrations of 0, 5, 15 and 25 mg/kg. At the end of the experiment, the animals were killed and samples of duodenum and caeca microflora were collected. This initial investigation demonstrated that silver nanoparticles did not influence emphatically microflora of quail caecum; however, water containing 25 mg/kg of Ag-nano significantly increased the population of lactic acid bacteria. Furthermore, Ag-nano did not show any damaging properties on enterocytes of duodenal villi.

Japanese quail as a model system for studying the neuroendocrine control of reproductive and social behaviors.

Abstract: Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica; referred to simply as quail in this article) readily exhibit sexual behavior and related social behaviors in captive conditions and have therefore proven valuable for studies of how early social experience can shape adult mate preference and sexual behavior. Quail have also been used in sexual conditioning studies illustrating that natural stimuli predict successful reproduction via Pavlovian processes. In addition, they have proven to be a good model to study how variation in photoperiod regulates reproduction and how variation in gonadal steroid hormones controls sexual behavior. For example, studies have shown that testosterone activates male-typical behaviors after being metabolized into estrogenic and androgenic metabolites. A critical site of action for these metabolites is the medial preoptic nucleus (POM), which is larger in males than in females. The enzyme aromatase converts testosterone to estradiol and is enriched in the POM in a male-biased fashion. Quail studies were the first to show that this enzyme is regulated both relatively slowly via genomic actions of steroids and more quickly via phosphorylation. With this base of knowledge and the recent cloning of the entire genome of the closely related chicken, quail will be valuable for future studies connecting gene expression to sexual and social behaviors.

Genetic Parameters of Body and Some Carcass Traits in Two Quail Strains

Abstract: In order to estimate genetic parameters for body weights and carcass yield of 2 strains of quails; 32 pairs of Japanese quail (coturnix Japanese) and 26 pairs of range quail (coturnix ypisilophorus) randomly were selected from the base populations of parents. Produced progenies (650 birds) were used to estimate the genetic parameters of body weights and carcass characteristics traits. Body weights at 35, 42 and 49 days of ages were significantly different, while there was no significant difference for body weights at 63 days of age (p>0.05). Carcass weight, carcass percent, breast weight and thigh percent were significantly affected by strain source of variations (p<0.1). Estimated heritabilities for different traits were from 0.030±0.090 for breast weight of coturnix Japanese to 0.787±0.406 for thigh weight of coturnix ypisilophorus. Genetic correlation among body weights at 35, 42, 49, 63 days of age and among carcass traits (carcass weight, breast weight and thigh weight) were all positive and high, while genetic correlation for breast percent, and carcass percent were low. Genetic correlation of thigh percent with the other considered traits was negative except body weight at 42 days of age, which tended to be low.