The Effect of Indomethacin on the Superficial Pigmentation of Japanese Quail Eggshell.

Abstract

The involvement of prostaglandin with pigment secretion in the shell gland of Japanese quail was verified. The complete superficial pigmentation of eggshell 1h before the expected oviposition was demonstrated in 20 quail hens by induced oviposition. The same hens were intrauterinely injected with 1mg of indomethacin 3.5, 3, and 2h before the expected oviposition successively (total 3mg/hen). No superficial pigmentation was observed in 14 hens 1h before the expected oviposition. This result suggests the involvement of prostaglandin with pigment secretion from the shell gland.

Calcium Participates in Secretion of Porphyrin from Shell Gland Epithelial Cells of Japanese Quail (<i>Coturnix coturnix japonica</i>)

“…In vivo experiments suggested that the injection of quails with prostaglandin F2α induced pigmentation [10] and indomethacin inhibited it [11]. However, our results show that neither PGF2α nor P4 or E2 enhanced the secretion of…”

“…Kai cretion of the pigment from the shell gland [9], and the level of secretion increased with the dose of prostaglandin F2α and arachidonic acid [10]. The involvement of prostaglandin was verified by intrauterine injection of indomethacin, which abolished shell pigmentation [11].…”

<i>In Vitro</i> Culture of Shell Gland Epithelial Cells in Japanese Quail (<i>Coturnix coturnix japonica</i>)

“…There have, however, been very few reports investigating the secretion of the protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). Soh and Koga [12] [13] and Soh et al [14] examined the secretion of the porphyrin from the quail shell gland cells. Prostaglandin F2α and arachidonic acid injected intrauterinely 6 h before the expected oviposition time induced the secretion of the porphyrin within 30 min after the injection [13].…”