Standard values for reproductive and clinical chemistry parameters of Japanese quail.

Historical control data of Japanese quail collected from reproduction studies conducted at the Federal Institute for Health Protection of Consumers and Veterinary Medicine between 1988 and 1994 are presented in this paper. Reproductive and clinical chemistry data from control animals of 10 ecotoxicological studies are summarized and discussed to develop a normal data base of this species. The data obtained were compared to the control reproductive parameters of bob-white quail and mallard ducks available in the literature. For a long time these two species have been most used in avian reproductive toxicology studies. In summary, the data obtained indicate that Japanese quail appears to be more appropriate to be used for the determination of reproductive effects of pesticides on birds.

Effects of bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide in Japanese quail exposed during egg laying period: an interlaboratory comparison study.

The guideline no. 206 for testing of chemicals of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) comprising an avian reproduction test using the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica; Termminck and Schlegel 1849) as pair-hold test organisms has been applied in a version that reduced the treatment period to 6 weeks without any pretreatment. In the present study bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide, C.A. No. 56-35-9 (tributyltin oxide, TBTO) was examined by five participants in an interlaboratory comparison test. A comparable regimen of dosing was performed by all participants starting either with 24 or 60 mg/kg TBTO in the feed and ending with 150 or 375 mg/kg. Within this dose range no signs of toxicity in adults were observed. Substance-related effects however were obvious with regard to egg production, fertility, hatching success, and survival of 14 day-old chicks. A clear dose dependency was given regarding effects on egg weight and on hatchability. The no-observed-effect concentrations for these two parameters was 60 mg/kg TBTO, characterizing these parameters as the most sensitive in this investigation. With the presented set of test parameters further aspects of subchronic toxicity in adults and chicks can be assessed as well as the validity of the performed test. Comparing the results for most test parameters consistency is obvious, thus confirming the applicability of the presented test guideline.

[Biotransformation of monolinuron (N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-methyl-N'methoxyurea) in isolated perfused chicken liver]. / Biotransformation von Monolinuron (N-(4-Chlorphenyl)-N'-methyl-N'-methoxyharnstoff) in der isoliert perfundierten Hühnerleber.

The biotransformation of radioactively labelled monolinuron (N-(4-chloro[U-14C]phenyl)-N'-methyl-N'-methoxyurea) was studied in the isolated perfused liver of the chicken. After a 4-hr perfusion, 83.1% of the added radioactivity was recovered, 56.6% in the perfusion medium and 26.5% in the liver and bile. The fraction of radioactivity extractable from the perfusion medium into ethyl acetate amounted to 47.8% of the added dose. In addition to monolinuron, five breakdown products were identified in this extract, namely N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-hydroxymethyl-N'-methoxyurea, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-methoxyurea, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N'-methylurea, 4-chlorophenylurea and 4-chloroacetanilide. Of particular interest was the absence of arylhydroxylated monolinuron derivatives, since in monolinuron-metabolism studies in the laying hen 2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenylurea and 3-hydroxy-4-chlorophenylurea were both detected. This differing metabolism corresponds to earlier findings in the rat, in which arylhydroxylated breakdown products were detected only in in vivo studies and not in rat-liver perfusion. Possible reasons for the differing metabolism of monolinuron in vivo and in vitro are discussed.

Testing in vitro of an indirect mutagen (cyclophosphamide) with human leukocyte cultures: Activation by liver perfusion and by incubation with crude liver homogenate.

The indirect mutagen cyclophosphamide was tested in human whole blood cultures with respect to chromosome-breaking activities and suppression of mitotic indices after activation by liver perfusion and crude liver homogenates with and without cofactors. Both methods produced nearly the same effects, with the exception of liver homogenate without cofactors which had only weak metabolic activities.