Influence of Simulated Microgravity on Leg Bone Development in Japanese Quail Chicks

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess the influence of simulated microgravity (hypodynamy) on morphological characteristics and mineral content of the long bones of the right leg of female Japanese quail chicks from 3 to 56 days of age. Femur and tibiotarsus were collected at 14, 28, 42 and 56 days; the variables studied were: weight (g), length and width (mm), bone index (ash weight/bone length in mg·mm -1 ), bone breaking strength (N) and calcium, phosphorus and magnesium content (mg·g -1 dry bone).All variables increased with bird age. However, the effect of hypodynamy on the examined variables was frequently large and significant. The tibiotarsus mean weight was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced by 0.154 g, although the femur mean weight in hypodynamy reared quails was almost identical to that of the age-matched control at 56 days. Similarly, there was significantly decreased tibiotarsus mean length (P < 0.01) by 3.16 mm and tibiotarsus mean width (P < 0.001) by 0.44 mm by 56 days. Similarly, bone index and bone breaking strength of both bones in birds reared under hypodynamy were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those of control. Moreover, hypodynamy significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the calcium content in femur and tibiotarsus at 42 days; phosphorus content in tibiotarsus was reduced significantly at 14 and 42 days (P < 0.001; P < 0.05, respectively) and magnesium content was decreased at 42 days (P < 0.01). On the contrary, magnesium content in both long bones of test quails was increased significantly (P < 0.01) at 14 days. Other differences in femur and tibiotarsus mineral content between test and control group were not significant. These findings suggest that, although hypodynamy reduce bone growth of test birds, the long bones of the right leg of female Japanese quail were able to develop under conditions of simulated microgravity.

The effect of bee pollen on bone biomechanical strength and trabecular bone histomorphometry in tibia of young Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)

“…As an animal avian model, Japanese quail is often used in studies of the toxicology of chemical compounds and the effects of environmental endocrine disruptors or in examining the physiological processes in birds [11][12][13]. Quails are also used as an animal model for studying bone formation and development, both in pre-hatch and post-hatch studies [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”