Adrenocortical response to mating, social interaction and restraint in the female Japanese quail

In some species, the act of mating may be the only occasion when a female judges the male and the course of the sexual encounter might influence forms of maternal investment that are mediated by hormonal pathways. Despite the growing interest in fitness consequences of acute adrenocortical responses, it has not been determined to what extent the act of mating provokes such responses in females. We used female Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) to determine to what extent any increase in corticosterone (CORT) is specific to actually mating with a male compared to visual and auditory contact with a male, and compared to social interaction with a female. We also asked if greater mating experience decreases the CORT response. We assessed how body condition of the individuals and their behavior during testing contributed to the variation in CORT response. As an additional reference for CORT increase we used a restraint procedure which resulted in the highest CORT. Our results show that females mating with a male have plasma CORT concentrations significantly increased from the baseline, which is not the case in females interacting with a male without the possibility of mating. Greater previous mating experience does not affect the CORT change caused by sexual interaction. Interestingly, social interaction with a female elicited a similar CORT response as mating with a male, which suggests that the effect on CORT was due to direct social interactions per se and not specific to the act of mating. Behavior during social and sexual interactions did not predict the CORT response, but larger females exhibited lower baseline and response CORT concentrations. We suggest that the lesser adrenocortical response of larger females might be related to their better control of the course of mating and might help them to adjust their reproductive investment, as reported in earlier studies.     

Reticuloendotheliosis in Japanese quail

An outbreak of reticuloendotheliosis occurred in a flock of Japanese quail. The most striking and consistent lesion observed was a marked thickening and nodular formations along the digestive tract. Other organs were involved with varying degrees of frequency, with tumour masses being observed in the lungs, liver, spleen, heart, pancreas, caeca! tonsils, ovary, kidney, airsacs, thyroid glands, testes and sciatic nerves. The histological changes were characterized by proliferation of an extremely anaplastic mononuclear type cell in the affected tissues. The cells bore all the characteristics of neoplastic growth, with large bizarre nuclei, numerous mitotic figures, misshapen nucleoli, and prominent pleomorphic cytoplasm.     

Tectal neurons projecting to the isthmo-optic nucleus in the Japanese quail

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injected into the isthmo-optic nucleus (ION) of the Japanese quail retrogradely labeled neurons in the ipsilateral optic tectum. Some of these neurons exhibited a characteristic 'willow-like' appearance. Somata of these neurons were round or pyriform, usually located in lamina h of the stratum griseum et fibrosum superficiale (SGFS), and emitted several thin dendritic branches that ramified in the deeper laminae of SGFS but not in the retinal recipient laminae of SGFS. Their axons had horizontal processes ramifying in the deepest lamina of SGFS or the stratum griseum centrale.     

Developmental hyperoxia attenuates the hypoxic ventilatory response in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

Early life experiences can influence development of the respiratory control system. We hypothesized that chronic hyperoxia (60% O(2)) during development would attenuate the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), similar to the effects of developmental hyperoxia in mammals. Quail were exposed to hyperoxia during prenatal development, during postnatal development, or during both prenatal and postnatal development (for approximately 2 or 4 weeks). HVR (11% O(2)) was subsequently assessed in adults (>6 weeks old) via barometric plethysmography and compared to quail raised in normoxia (i.e., control). The HVR of quail exposed to hyperoxia both prenatally and postnatally was reduced 50-60% compared to control quail whereas postnatally exposed quail exhibited normal HVR. The effects of prenatal hyperoxia on HVR were equivocal and depended on how HVR was expressed. We conclude that developmental exposure to 60% O(2) attenuates the HVR in quail and that the critical period for this plasticity encompasses the late prenatal and early postnatal periods.     

Myosin heavy chain expression and atrophy in rat skeletal muscle during transition from cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether changes in myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression and atrophy in rat skeletal muscle are observed during transition from cardiac hypertrophy to chronic heart failure (CHF) induced by aortic stenosis (AS). AS and control animals were studied 12 and 18 weeks after surgery and when overt CHF had developed in AS animals, 28 weeks after the surgery. The following parameters were studied in the soleus muscle: muscle atrophy index (soleus weight/body weight), muscle fibre diameter and frequency and MHC expression. AS animals presented decreases in both MHC1 and type I fibres and increases in both MHC2a and type IIa fibres during late cardiac hypertrophy and CHF. Type IIa fibre atrophy occurred during CHF. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that skeletal muscle phenotype changes occur in both late cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure; this suggests that attention should be given to the fact that skeletal muscle phenotype changes occur prior to overt heart failure symptoms.     

Responses of isolator-derived Japanese quail and quail cell cultures to selected animal viruses.

Thirteen oncogenic and necrotizing animal viruses were assayed in LIFE Sciences, Inc. (LSI)-specific pathogen-free Japanese quail and LSI-specific pathogen-free chicken embryo cell cultures. Nine viruses produced similar titers in the quail and chicken cell systems, whereas four viruses showed significantly higher titers in chickens. Young Japanese quail and chickens were inoculated with five selected avain viruses and maintained in stainless-steel isolators. Comparable responses were noted in quail and chickens injected with Newcastle disease virus and avain leukosis virus, but quail were significantly more resistant than chickens to fowl pox virus, laryngotracheitis virus, and Marek's disease herpesvirus. Although no overt symptoms of disease were observed in Japanese quail inoculated with most avain viruses, neutralizing antibody or virus was detected, indicating presence of an inapparent infection. In one experiment, neutralizing antibody was detected in a comparable number of quail and chickens after inoculation with avian leukosis virus. Avian leukosis virus viremia was observed at 12 and 70 days postinoculation, with the COFAL (complement fixation for avian leukosis) titers similar for quail and chickens. Most quail infected with Marek's disease herpesvirus produced neutralizing antibody within 70 days but showed no classical symptoms of Marek's disease even when held for 5 months. In contrast, all chickens inoculated with Marek's disease herpesvirus died within 20 days. The utility of quail embryo cell cultured in the preparation of vaccines and biological reagents is discussed.     

Immunosenescence and age-related susceptibility to influenza virus in Japanese quail

We evaluated juvenile, pubescent, reproductive adult, and aged Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) to determine if there were age-related differences in immune function with the hypothesis that aged birds would have weaker immune responses. Immune responses were measured using phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test, antibody response to foreign red blood cells and exposure to an H9N2 influenza virus. Adult birds consistently had stronger immune responses than young and aged birds. Aged quail had skin responses 38% lower than adults. Pubescent birds' mean anti-red blood cell response was four-fold lower than adult birds. Adults had greater increase in total anti-viral antibody between primary and secondary infections than all other groups. Our data demonstrate an age-related difference in immune function in Japanese quail that has similarities to age-related immunity in humans; younger and older animals had weaker immune responses compared to young adults.     

Functional castration of the female Japanese quail

This experiment compared the reproductive behavior and morphology of female quail exposed to a short photoperiod (8L: 16D) for 3 or 6 weeks with the behavior and morphology of ovariectomized females and females exposed to a long photoperiod (16L: 8D). Birds exposed to 8L: 16D did not differ from ovariectomized birds in behavior or in oviduct weight and appeared to be functionally castrated. Functional castration by a short photoperiod is a convenient research technique.     

Testosterone metabolism and testosterone-dependent characteristics in Japanese quail

In 2 independent experiments, we measured and correlated in maturing male Japanese quail the individual variations in sexual and aggressive behavior, cloacal gland size, testes weight, plasma testosterone concentrations and intracellular testosterone metabolism by hypothalamus and cloacal gland. Cloacal gland area was only weakly related to plasma testosterone levels but was positively correlated with the production of active androgenic metabolites and negatively related to the producition of 5β-reduced androgens (inactive) in the glandular tissue. Several measures of behavior were correlated with aspects of the testosterone metabolism in the anterior hypothalamus. In both experiments, the behavior of the birds was also strongly correlated with their testes weight and their cloacal gland area but weakly or not at all with their plasma testosterone levels. These studies suggest that testosterone metabolism in involved in the control of hormone action in maturing animals.     

Timidity in Japanese quail: effects of vitamin C and divergent selection for adrenocortical response.

Male Japanese quail chicks of two genetic lines selected for low (LS) or high (HS) adrenocortical responses to mechanical restraint were housed in mixed-line groups of 24 in four compartments of a multitier brooder battery at 20 days of age. Quail in two of the four compartments were given vitamin C (ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, APP, 1 g L-ascorbic acid/L) solution for 48 h, whereas the other birds received untreated tap water as usual before they were tested at 23 days of age. At test, each quail was placed individually in a dark, sheltered compartment of an emergence box and allowed 1 min to acclimatise before a door was raised allowing access to an illuminated and exposed area. Vocalisation and the latencies to head and full emergence were then recorded to measure its fear levels. More LS quail vocalised than did HS ones. They also emerged more rapidly from the sheltered compartment into the illuminated one than HS birds. These findings further support our hypothesis that decreased fearfulness has accompanied genetic selection for reduced adrenocortical responsiveness. Treatment with APP reduced the latency to emerge fully into the exposed compartment, and there were no line x treatment interactions. These results suggest that vitamin C supplementation alleviated fearfulness, regardless of existing line differences in this behavioural trait.     

Conditioned place preference in 12-day-old Japanese quail

Four experiments assessed the ability of 12-day-old Japanese quail to learn a conditioned place preference (CPP). In Experiment 1, immature quail learned to prefer a place paired with normal food over a place paired with tainted food. Experiment 2 indicated that this kind of learning can be achieved with as few as 2 days of training. It was discovered in Experiment 3 that place preferences can be established with exposure to only one hedonic event. Quail learned to prefer a chamber paired with either normal food or tainted food over a chamber that did not contain a hedonic stimulus. Experiment 4 successfully replicated the 2-day normal-food-induced place preference in the previous experiment, while also showing that mere context exposure is not sufficient to produce CPP. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 31: 245–254, 1997     

Sensory nerve endings in the beak skin of Japanese quail

Summary This study is concerned with the distribution and ultrastructure of sensory nerve endings in the beak skin of adult Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The following nerve endings were found: free nerve endings, clusters of dermal Merkel nerve endings, Herbst corpuscles and Ruffmi corpuscles. The latter were found only in the dermis of the tip of the upper beak. The remaining endings were present in the skin of all areas of upper and lower beak. Free nerve endings were supplied by either thin myelinated axons or unmyelinated C-fibers and were localized in the dermis close to the basal layer of the epidermis. Merkel cells formed clusters (up to 50) localized below and between the epidermal cones of the beak skin. Disc-shaped thickenings of nerve endings were squeezed between individual Merkel cells. Small Herbst corpuscles were found in the dermis close to the epidermal cones of the beak skin. Large Herbst corpuscles occurred in deep layers of the dermis. The Ruffmi corpuscles were cylindrical in shape (80 m × 400 m) and arranged in groups of up to ten corpuscles. Each corpuscle was surrounded by an incomplete fibrous capsule.     

Gene frequencies ofS-formylglutathione hydrolase isozyme in a Japanese population

Journal of Human Genetics - Gene frequencies ofS-formylglutathione hydrolase isozyme in a Japanese population     

Nongenomic inheritance of emotional reactivity in Japanese quail

Avian scientific literature includes few reports on the influence of characteristics of mothers on the behavior of their offspring. By comparing young domestic Japanese quail raised by adoptive mothers with high levels of general emotional reactivity (E+ mothers) to young raised by adoptive mothers with low levels of general emotional reactivity (E- mothers), we evaluated the influence of characteristics of mothers on the behavioral development of their offspring. Our results revealed that general emotional reactivity was higher in young raised by E+ mothers than in young raised by E- mothers. These differences were significant in the presence of mothers as well as after separation from them, suggesting direct as well as long-term maternal influence. Young raised by E+ mothers also presented delayed increases in weight.     

Effect of neuromedin S on feeding regulation in the Japanese quail

Neuromedin S (NMS) was recently isolated from the brains of humans, mice and rats as an endogenous ligand for the orphan G protein-coupled receptors FM-3 and FM-4, which have been identified as neuromedin U (NMU) receptors 1 and 2, respectively. To investigate the role of NMS in avian species, we elucidated the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of rat NMS on food intake, body weight, body temperature and gross locomotor activity in adult Japanese quails. NMS significantly decreased food intake (and consequently body weight) in a time-dependent manner during 12-h light period, but increased both body temperature and gross locomotor activity. On the other hand, i.c.v. injection of rat NMU showed the reverse effects of NMS in Japanese quail. These results suggest that NMS may play an important role in regulating food intake and sympathetic nerve activity in the Japanese quail.     

Development of dustbathing components in Bobwhite and Japanese quail

The development of dustbathing components was investigated in Bobwhite and Japanese quail. The incidence and frequencies of components for both species increased with age, but dustbathing occurred earlier in Japanese quail. The dust toss, head rub, and side rub components invariably developed in the same order they occur during an adult bout. The topographies of many components changed systematically with a ?rudimentary”? form preceding the typical adult form. Large individual differences were observed in the development of the temporal relations among components, but these differences were unrelated to the relative frequencies of components.     

Replication and transmission of influenza viruses in Japanese quail

Quail have emerged as a potential intermediate host in the spread of avian influenza A viruses in poultry in Hong Kong. To better understand this possible role, we tested the replication and transmission in quail of influenza A viruses of all 15 HA subtypes. Quail supported the replication of at least 14 subtypes. Influenza A viruses replicated predominantly in the respiratory tract. Transmission experiments suggested that perpetuation of avian influenza viruses in quail requires adaptation. Swine influenza viruses were isolated from the respiratory tract of quail at low levels. There was no evidence of human influenza A or B virus replication. Interestingly, a human-avian recombinant containing the surface glycoprotein genes of a quail virus and the internal genes of a human virus replicated and transmitted readily in quail; therefore, quail could function as amplifiers of influenza virus reassortants that have the potential to infect humans and/or other mammalian species.     

Structural and immunohistochemical aspects of the postovulatory follicle in Japanese quail

In the present study, we searched for the presence of granulosa lipid spheres, of lacunae, and of the smooth-muscle markers desmin and alpha-smooth-muscle actin, in the wall of the POF1 of the quail ovary. Lacunae, using the labelled yolk technique, were visible as large cavities in the POF1 wall. The immunohistochemical localization of desmin was similar to that observed in preovulatory follicles. A similar distribution was observed using an anti-alpha-smooth-muscle actin antiserum, but the cells of the theca externa were also positively stained. The general conclusion was that the studied structures were similarly localized in the follicle wall, before and during the day after ovulation, but that they are more obvious in the POF, due to its general contracted state.     

Effects of naloxone on the acquisition and expression of appetitive and consummatory sexual behavior in male Japanese quail.

Previous studies in Japanese quail indicate that central administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone enhances consummatory sexual behavior (CSB). This effect could be related either to a decrease in sexual satiety or to previously documented stimulatory effects of naloxone on GnRH. The present studies were performed to investigate these two possibilities and to explore for the first time opioid involvement in the expression and acquisition of appetitive aspects of sexual behavior (ASB) in castrated, testosterone-treated Japanese quail. Although no effects on either ASB or CSB were observed in response to peripheral naloxone injections, a significant increase in CSB was observed in males receiving central injections of naloxone. Central injections of naloxone had no effect on the acquisition of a social proximity response used to measure ASB. However, compared to controls a greater number of naloxone-treated birds copulated in the test arena on the first day. Overall, these results indicate an inhibitory role for opioids in CSB, and suggest that opioids are differentially involved in different aspects of sexual behavior.