Coturnix

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

Maternally derived egg hormones, antibodies and antimicrobial proteins: common and different pathways of maternal effects in Japanese quail.

Abstract: Avian eggs contain a variety of maternally-derived substances that can influence the development and performance of offspring. The levels of these egg compounds vary in relation to environmental and genetic factors, but little is known about whether there are correlative links between maternal substances in the egg underlying common and different pathways of maternal effects. In the present study, we investigated genetically determined variability and mutually adjusted deposition of sex hormones (testosterone-T, androstenedione-A4 and progesterone-P4), antibodies (IgY) and antimicrobial proteins (lysozyme) in eggs of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). We used different genetic lines that were independently selected for yolk T concentrations, duration of tonic immobility and social reinstatement behaviour, since both selections for behavioural traits (fearfulness and social motivation, respectively) produced considerable correlative responses in yolk androgen levels. A higher selection potential was found for increased rather than decreased yolk T concentrations, suggesting that there is a physiological minimum in egg T levels. Line differences in yolk IgY concentrations were manifested within each selection experiment, but no consistent inter-line pattern between yolk IgY and T was revealed. On the other hand, a consistent inverse inter-line pattern was recorded between yolk IgY and P4 in both selections for behavioural traits. In addition, selections for contrasting fearfulness and social motivation were associated with changes in albumen lysozyme concentrations and an inverse inter-line pattern between the deposition of yolk IgY and albumen lysozyme was found in lines selected for the level of social motivation. Thus, our results demonstrate genetically-driven changes in deposition of yolk T, P4, antibodies and albumen lysozyme in the egg. This genetic variability can partially explain mutually adjusted maternal deposition of sex hormones and immune-competent molecules but the inconsistent pattern of inter-line differences across all selections indicates that there are other underlying mechanisms, which require further studies.

Nonspecific imprintability of quail to colors: response to artificial selection.

Abstract: Eleven generations of bidirectionally selecting quail (C coturnix japonica) for nonspecific imprintability to blue or red stimuli resulted in unexpectedly slow yet reliable differentiation of "Hi" and "Lo" imprintability lines Correlated changes were observed in the variances of unconditional color choices in subjects belonging to these genetic lines Implications of the data for understanding the interrelated expression of gene effects and environment effects in the development of behavior are discussed

Genes for Polymorphic H1 Histones Are Linked in the Japanese Quail Genome

Abstract: In a previous report (Palyga, J, Biochem Genet 29, 431-445, 1991), three subtypes of erythrocyte histone H1 were found to vary in a Japanese quail population While H1b and H1z histones were each represented by two electromorphs differing in apparent molecular weights, a polymorphism of histone H1a was connected with a lack of this protein in some birds As a genetic basis for this variability was demonstrated only in H1b, here genetic data are provided which indicate that both H1a and H1z are encoded by two codominant alleles at a locus A linkage analysis of family data in 13 quail pedigrees has revealed a significant linkage between H1a and H1z and between H1b and H1z (lod scores about 12 and 5, respectively) Thus, a gene for histone H1z is located between H1a and H1b in the quail genome