Mirex-induced hepatic changes in chickens,Japanese quail,and rats

Mirex¹ was fed in the diet to chickens at 0 to 160 ppm for 12 and 16 weeks, to Japanese quail at 0 to 80 ppm for 12 weeks, and to rats at 0 to 100 ppm for 2 and 4 weeks. Mirex did not affect the concentration of protein or cytochrome P450 in hepatic microsomes of chickens or Japanese quail, nor did it affect hydroxylation of aniline or demethylation of aminopyrine. However, structural changes were apparent in livers of chickens fed mirex at 10 ppm and above and included regions of necrosis and nonspecific cellular aberrations and alterations of sinusoids and bile canaliculi. Mirex caused liver enlargement in rats and increased microsomal protein and cytochrome P450 but did not affect hydroxylation of aniline or demethylation of aminopyrine. Hepatic structural changes in rats that were associated with mirex included proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and degeneration of some bile canaliculi.     

Infuence of dietary calcium,selenium, and methylmercury on eggshell thickness in Japanese quail

Summary A high Ca, semi-purified diet promoted greater egg production with thicker shells in Japanese quail hens. 7 ppm of dietary Se depressed egg weights with no effect on eggshell thickness. The addition of 20 ppm of MHg to either a low or high Ca diet containing Se depressed both egg production and eggshell thickness. Se residues of liver, kidney, and brain in Se-MHg fed quail were significantly higher than in Se treated quail, probably reflecting the ability of Se to bind with Hg. CA, an enzyme required for the formation of the carbonate radical of Ca carbonate in egg-shells, was not reduced in the Se-MHg treated Japanese quail hens blood or oviducts.     

p,p′-DDT andp,p′-DDE effects on egg production,eggshell thickness,and reproduction of japanese quail

Summary p,p-DDT and p,p-DDE were investigated for effects on egg production and eggshell thickness in Japanese quail. p,p-DDT was examined for effects on hatchability and fertility. DDE was tested at 0, 2, 10, 40, and 200 ppm in the diet. No evidence suggested that DDE affected number of eggs laid, egg weight, or eggshell thickness at any level of DDE tested. DDT was tested at 1, 2.5, 10, and 40 ppm in the diet. In one experiment, quail fed DDT at 40 ppm and caged in male-female pairs broke more eggs than quail caged similarly but fed lower amounts of DDT or than quail fed an equal amount of DDT but caged alone. DDT did not detectably reduce eggshell thickness, number of eggs laid, fertility, or hatchability. However, paired quail laid fewer eggs than did single quail in two experiments and laid eggs with thinner shells in one experiment.     

Effects of low dietary levels of methyl mercury on mallard reproduction

Summary Mallard ducks were fed a control diet or a diet containing 0.5 ppm or 3 ppm mercury (as methylmercury dicyandiamide). Health of adults and reproductive success were studied. The dietary level of 3 ppm mercury had harmful effects on reproduction, although it did not appear to affect the health of the adults during the 12 months of dosage. Ducks that were fed the diet containing 0.5 ppm mercury reproduced as well as controls, and ducklings from parents fed 0.5 ppm mercury grew faster in the first week of life than did controls.The greatest harm to reproduction associated with the diet containing 3 ppm mercury was an increase in duckling mortality, but reduced egg laying and increased embryonic mortality also occurred.During the peak of egg laying, eggs laid by controls tended to be heavier than eggs laid by ducks fed either level of mercury; however, there seemed to be no eggshell thinning associated with mercury treatment.Levels of mercury reached about 1 ppm in eggs from ducks fed a dietary dosage of 0.5 ppm mercury and between 6 and 9 ppm in the eggs from ducks fed 3 ppm mercury.     

Subchronic toxicity and reproduction effects of tri-n-butyltin oxide in Japanese quail

A subchronic toxicity/reproduction study was performed in Japanese quails that were fed a diet containing 0, 24, 60, and 150 mg tri-n-butyltin oxide (TBTO) per kg basal diet for 6 weeks. Eggs produced during the 6 weeks of treatment were incubated and hatched, and chicks hatched from eggs collected in weeks 5 and 6 of exposure were reared for 2 weeks. In parent quail, neither diminished food consumption nor any overt toxic or histopathologic signs were observed following exposure to TBTO. A statistically significant decrease in hatchability and increase in percent of chicks found dead in the shell were observed following TBTO exposure at concentrations of 60 and 150 mg/kg food. However, no significant, adverse effects were recorded on total egg production, eggshell thickness and cracked eggs. Blood chemistry parameters of birds measured at the last day of TBTO treatment revealed a statistically significant decrease in serum aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) enzyme activity among both sexes in all treatment groups. In addition, a statistically significant dose-related decrease in serum calcium level was observed in females only, while serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were statistically significantly reduced in male birds in all treatment groups (approximately 50% of the controls).Moreover, a significant decrease in hepatic microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin (EROD) activity was recorded in females fed 24 and 60 mg TBTO/kg diet and males fed 60 and 150 mg TBTO/kg diet, whereas pentoxyresorufin-o-deetylase (PROD) activity was only significantly decreased in males fed 150 mg TBTO/kg diet. No TBTO related effects were found on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), serum total thyroxine (TT₄), luteinizing hormone (LH) or retinol levels in both sexes. In summary, TBTO affected mainly reproduction in Japanese quail at a dose where no overt toxicity is observed.     

Dietary selenium protection of methylmercury intoxication of Japanese quail

Summary Selenium, as sodium selenite, added at 5 ppm to purified diets of Japanese quail protected against methylmercury intoxication. Selenium fed simultaneously with methylmercury to quail for 9 weeks gave complete protection. However, feeding selenium with methylmercury for 4 weeks, followed by a diet containing only methylmercury, delayed the onset of methylmercury intoxication for 1–2 weeks as compared to quail not pretreated with selenium. On diets which contained 20 ppm of methylmercury but no selenium, over 90% mortality was observed for young quail within 2 weeks, and mature quail within 4 weeks. Methylmercury residues in liver, kidney, and brain are higher in male than female quail. High methylmercury content of these organs, or in produced eggs, does not indicate that birds will show evidence of methylmercury toxicosis.Approved by the Director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station for publication as Journal Paper No. 2012.     

The effects of subacute and chronic exposure to 4-aminopyridine on reproduction in coturnix quail

Summary When male and female coturnix quail (Coturnix coturnix) were given a single subacute oral dose (5.62 mg/kg) of the avian frightening agent 4-aminopyridine (4AP) and paired with untreated mates, there was no effect on the reproductive performance of males; egg production of females was reduced the third week after treatment but recovered during the fourth week. Chronic exposure to 31.6, 100, and 316 ppm of 4AP in the diet of mated pairs did not affect reproductive performance during or after the 4- or 6-week period the chemical was fed, but no birds fed 1,000 ppm produced live chicks after treatment began and all died within 3 weeks. The 28-day LC₅₀ of 4AP was determined to be 447 ppm for male coturnix and 562 ppm for females. F₁ progeny from quail fed 31.6, 100, and 316 ppm 4AP and randomly mated at maturity showed no reproductive effects from their parents' exposure.     

Epoxiconazole causes changes in testicular histology and sperm production in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The fungicide epoxiconazole (Epox), a triazole, belongs to the group of azole compounds that are extensively used as fungicides in various fruit crops. The frequent use of agricultural lands for wintering by migrating birds can be the source of their increased dietary intake of agricultural pesticides. We investigated whether exposure to Epox causes effects on avian fertility and reproduction, using the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) as a model species for the assessment of reproductive effects of pesticides in wild birds. Epox was administered to adult Japanese quail for three weeks at dietary levels of 10, 50, and 500 ppm, and possible effects on reproduction were investigated. Epox administration resulted in a significantly decreased number of spermatids in the 50- and 500-ppm dose groups. Histopathology showed a reduced number of testicular canaliculi with visible germ cells and a reduction in spermatid number. However, testis weight was not affected up to the highest dose level. No impact was observed on hormone levels, fertility, and reproductive outcome, as laying rate and percentage of fertile eggs were not altered. Likewise, treatment had no influence on the egg or chick parameters evaluated. A time- and dose-related transfer of Epox into the eggs was determined in all treatment groups. We conclude that dietary treatment of Japanese quail with 50 and 500 ppm of the triazole fungicide Epox resulted in a clear impact on the testis. The evaluation of the additional endpoints spermatid count and testicular histology have proven useful and are recommended for future studies on avian reproduction.     

Effects of low levels of dietary lead and iron on hepatic RNA, protein, and minerals in young Japanese quail

Day-old Japanese quail were fed purified diets containing either 0.2 (control), 5.4, or 16.2 ppm lead as the acetate with either 25 (deficient) or 100 ppm (adequate control) iron for 2 weeks. Iron deficiency caused decreases in hemoglobin, iron, and manganese in the liver, and hepatic RNA synthesis. Iron deficiency also caused increased concentrations of lead, calcium, and molybdenum in the liver. Lead supplements caused increased concentrations of lead in the liver, and with adequate dietary iron, each supplemental lead level caused a slight decrease in the concentration of RNA in the liver. Treatment had no effect on DNA or protein synthesis, body weight, or liver weight in relation to body weight. These low levels of dietary lead did not cause the same adverse metabolic effects observed by others with higher levels of lead; however, iron deficiency increased lead uptake by the liver and affected RNA synthesis.     

Dieldrin and p,p′—DDT effects on egg production and eggshell thickness of chickens

Summary Sixty Leghorn hens were randomly divided into 5 groups of 12 and individually fed a control diet, or diets containing 10 and 20 ppm dieldrin, or diets containing 100 and 200 ppm p,p-DDT for a 12-week period. Average egg production per bird, egg weight, dry shell weight, shell thickness (not including membranes), and shell calcium were not affected by feeding the insecticides. In addition, the length of the clutch or the number of clutches during the 12-week period were not affected. However, egg weight increased with time during the experiment, and eggshell thickness decreased with successive eggs within a clutch.Published with the approval of the director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No. 301.     

Chromium supplementation can alleviate negative effects of heat stress on egg production,egg quality and some serum metabolites of laying Japanese quail

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.     

DDT thins shells of eggs from mallard ducks maintained onad libitum or controlled-feeding regimens

Mallard ducks were fed diets containing various levels of technical DDT or chemically purep,p'-DDT, or dieldrin. Either technical DDT orp,p'-DDT at 20 ppm or greater, or dieldrin at 10 ppm caused a statistically significant reduction in eggshell thickness, weight, and calcium. Shells of eggs from ducks fed 40 ppm ofp,p'-DDT were about 20% thinner than those from control ducks, and shells of eggs from ducks fed 10 ppm of dieldrin were about 6% thinner than those from controls. The reduction in eggshell thickness was linear with increasing dose of DDT to 40 ppm, and with increasing dose of dieldrin through all levels studies. Eggshell thinning occurred regardless of whether the diets containing DDT were fed underad libitum or controlled conditions. DDT fed at 200 ppm was lethal to the ducks. Neither DDT nor dieldrin affected weight of the eggs or rate of egg production.Published with the approval of the Director of the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No. 462.     

Polychlorinated biphenyl-induced decrease in liver vitamin A in Japanese quail and rats

Summary Aroclor 1242 (PCB) or DDT increased liver weight and lipids and decreased liver vitamin A of male and female rats or male Japanese quail. Laying female quail did not show consistent changes, presumably due to mobilization of lipid and vitamin A for egg yolk. When egg laying was inhibited, PCB reduced liver vitamin A 50%. Aroclor 1242 reduced egg production, but had no effect on egg weight or eggshell thickness.     

The prolonged exposure of Japanese quail to carbaryl and its effects on growth and reproductive parameters

Summary Carbaryl fed to Japanese quail over a 14 week period resulted in decreased body weight, increased relative brain, liver and kidney weights in one or both sexes at levels of 900 ppm or higher. Significant differences were not found in the F₁ birds at the same levels after 6 weeks. It appears that the time of exposure is critical and that parental diet is not. There were no significant differences in egg production, hatchability or fertility although trends toward reduction of these parameters were developing at the 900 and 1200 ppm levels.Paper No.4984 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, NC 27607.The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station of the products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.Senior author on study leave of absence from the Environmental Protection Agency, Health Effects Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.     

Effects of dicofol on mallard eggshell quality

Dicofol is an organochlorine acaricide structurally similar to DDE and there is concern that it may effect avian reproduction. Effects of dietary dicofol on mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) egg production and eggshell quality were evaluated; the mallard is moderately sensitive to DDE shellthinning toxicity. Hens in egg production were fed either 0, 3, 10, 30, or 100 g/g dicofol for 42 days (the formulation of dicofol contained <0.1% DDT-related impurities). A positive control study was also conducted in which mallard hens in egg production were fed 0, 3, 10, and 100 g/g DDE for 42 days. Egg weight, shell thickness, shell strength, and dried shell weight were measured for all eggs produced. Egg production was not affected by dicofol diets but the percentages of cracked and soft-shelled eggs from birds on the 100 g/g dicofol diet were significantly (p < 0.05) greater. Shell strength, thickness, and weight were negatively related to dicofol dietary concentrations. Shell quality was reduced after one day of treatment with some dicofol diets. Effects of similar character and magnitude were observed in eggs from positive control birds fed DDE.Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.     

Effects of fentin hydroxide on reproduction of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

In a one-generation reproductive study, the fungicidal compound triphenyltin hydroxide (fentin) was administered to adult Japanese quail for 6 weeks at dietary levels of 3 and 30 ppm. Reproduction was significantly impaired in the high-dose group. The principal adverse finding was a marked increase in embryonic mortality, resulting in a lower hatch rate. Furthermore, a reduction in egg production was observed with ongoing duration of treatment. Most of the other reproduction-related parameters were not affected. The in ovo losses are assumed to result from a direct toxic effect of the test substance on chick embryos. At the low dietary level, reproduction was not altered. In contrast to the obvious reproductive toxicity, there was only limited evidence of adverse treatment-related findings in the adult birds. However, because such minor effects as an increase in mean liver weight, which was accompanied by macroscopic liver findings and a decrease in T4 serum concentration, were still seen at 3 ppm, a no-observed-effect level could not be established.     

Toxicologic studies with japanese quail fed winter wheat grown on municipal sludge-amended soil

Winter wheat was grown on soil amended with 100 dry tons per acre (224 metric tons/ha) of municipal sewage sludge from Syracuse, New York. The grain contained 1.43 and 0.98 ppm (mg/kg) dry weight, respectively, of cadmium and nickel. This wheat was incorporated as 60% of a semi-synthetic diet and fed to male and female Japanese quail for two generations. Male quail from the F₁ generation fed sludge-grown wheat showed induction of hepatic microsomal enzymes,i.e., aminopyrene-N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, that indicated foreign compounds present in the wheat. Cadmium was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than controls in kidney, liver, and testes and nickel in the liver of the male quail (F₀) fed the sludge-grown grain. Cadmium in kidney and liver (but not in eggs) and nickel in liver was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than controls in the females fed the sludge-grown wheat. Birds from the F₁ generation showed no significantly different (p > 0.05) concentrations of cadmium in kidney, liver, or eggs between the two dietary treatments. There were no observable changes in the tissue ultrastructure of liver and kidney as examined by electron microscopy in any of the treatment groups.     

Effects of atrazine on sexual maturation in female Japanese quail induced by photostimulation or exogenous gonadotropin

The herbicide atrazine has gained recent attention for its reported effects on reproduction in amphibians. The present study examined the putative effects of atrazine during sexual maturation in the photostimulated female Japanese quail. Furthermore, the effects of atrazine on birds administered exogenous gonadotropin (pregnant mare serum gonadotropin [PMSG]) were investigated. Atrazine was administered up to 1,000 ppm in the diet to female quail undergoing photoperiodically induced sexual maturation. At high dietary concentrations, atrazine exhibits signs of overt toxicity with reductions in growth, feed intake, and liver weights, but these effects were dependent on the timing of treatment administration. Atrazine did not influence the weights of reproductive tissues (ovary and oviduct) or circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH). However, high concentrations of atrazine depressed circulating concentrations of estradiol. Treatment with atrazine for four weeks during sexual maturation inhibited growth but did not affect any other parameter assessed (feed intake, liver, ovary, or oviduct weights or the circulating concentrations of LH and estradiol). In birds receiving daily injections of PMSG, atrazine reduced growth, feed intake, and liver weights. However, PMSG-induced gonadal and oviduct growth was not affected by atrazine. The present results suggest that dietary atrazine exhibits limited reproductive toxicity in female quail during sexual maturation and only at concentrations above ecological relevance.     

Effects of methyltestosterone on reproduction in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Although the hormone-mediated effects of the synthetic androgenic hormone methyltestosterone (MT) are well characterized in mammals, little is known about endocrine and other toxic effects on reproduction in birds. In a one-generation study, MT was administered to adult Japanese quail (12 pairs per group) at dietary dose levels of 0, 10, 50, and 110 ppm for a period of 3 weeks. Reproductive performance was severely affected in the groups receiving 50 and 110 ppm MT. In females, the egg-laying rate was reduced not only related to the dose administered but also to the duration of treatment. The administration of 110 ppm, and to a lesser extent, of 50 ppm MT resulted in an immediate and dramatic decrease in the total number of eggs laid, which complicated reliable assessment of other reproduction-related parameters. In males, the findings suggested inhibition of spermatogenesis at dose levels of 50 ppm and above, resulting in a subsequent reduction in male fertility.     

Regulation of intestinal calcium absorption in the laying quail: independent of kidney vitamin D hydroxylation.

Two experiments were carried out with laying quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed either cholecalciferol (40 mug/kg) or 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (8 mug/kg). Recovery following vitamin D depletion, as indicated by egg production and shell deposition, was faster in quail fed 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol than in those fed cholecalciferol. Overall intestinal calcium absorption was higher in the 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol-fed quail due to a higher absorption in the middle parts of the small intestine. This was associated with corresponding differences in the concentration of calcium binding protein. Intestinal calcium absorption was markedly higher during periods of shell formation than during periods of uterine inactivity in quail fed either cholecalciferol or 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol. It is suggested, therefore, that the mechanism responsible for this difference is independent of vitamin D hydroxylation in the kidney.