Delayed Reproductive Development Resulting from Aflatoxicosis in Juvenile Japanese Quail

Abstract

Aflatoxicosis was induced in young Japanese quail. In the first experiment five replicates of 30 birds per treatment were fed a soy-corn basal ration containing 0, 5, or 10 microgram aflatoxin per gram of feed from 1 to 3 weeks of age. At 3 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and mesurements taken. In the second experiment, 0 to 10 microgram aflatoxin per gram of diet were fed from either 1 to 3 weeks of age or 2 to 4 weeks of age. At 3 weeks of age body weights were significantly (P < .05) reduced and relative liver weights were significantly (P < .05) increased. Testicular weights relative to body weight were depressed by up to 50%. Ovary wet weights, but not relative weights, were reduced. Testicular development (weight) was impaired through 6 weeks of age. Ovarian development, determined both by weight and number of developing follicles, was delayed as long as 3 weeks following withdrawal of aflatoxin from the diet. Radioimmunoassay for circulating androgens revealed that aflatoxin suppressed both the onset of production and the final concentratin of male hormone. The data demonstrate that aflatoxin can exert a deleterious inhibition of sexual development in quail with subsequent impairment of reproductive capacity. These findings raise the implication of potential reproductive failure in economically important species such as broiler breeders.

Toxicity Effect of Aflatoxin B1 on Reproductive System of Albino Male Rats

“…One of the earliest studies indicating morbidness of reproductive efficiency due to AF toxicity was done by Maryamma and Sivadas (1975) who reported that continuous feeding of a diet containing 0.7 ppm AF produces testicular degeneration in male goats. There have been other reports which indicate that AFB1 causes delay in physiological and behavioral sexual maturation and also delays testicular development in Japanese quail (Doerr and Ottinger, 1980). It has been additionally discovered that AFB1 decreases semen volume and testis weight and leads to the disruption of the germinal epithelium in mature male white Leghorn chicks (Sharlin et al, 1980).…”

Aflatoxin-Antioxidant Effects on Growth of Young Chicks

“…The possibility that enzyme induction could increase aflatoxin detoxification was of interest because aflatoxins are relatively common contaminants of poultry feed, with capability of reducing weight gain, feed efficiency, reproductive performance, and resistance to disease (Edds and Bortell, 1983;Doerr and Ottinger, 1980). We, therefore, conducted the present investigation to determine if aflatoxin toxicity in chicks could be modified in the presence of BHT, a synthetic antioxidant commonly used as a feed preservative.…”

Avian Models for Research in Toxicology and Endocrine Disruption

“…Japanese quail: Sawhney et al, 1973). Moreover, a¯atoxin decreased ovarian follicular development in young Japanese quail (Doerr and Ottinger, 1980). Treatment of male chickens with a mixture containing a¯atoxin reduced a number of indices of reproductive function.…”