Antifertility effect of gossypol in male Japanese quail.

Conventionally housed 130-160 g adult male Japanese quail were given gossypol acetic acid (gossypol) im at 25 mg/kg in 0.5 ml of 10% EtOH for 12 and 24 days (Groups 1 and 2), respectively. One day after treatment was terminated they were allowed to mate with laying females individually for 20 days. Fertility was 0% from mating of the Group 1 birds on days 1-2 and increased to 25, 35, 55 and 65% on days 3-6 after cessation of gossypol treatment. At day 11, fertility was 80 vs 84% in controls, whereas hatchability was 70% for both. By comparison, eggs from Group 2 mated quail were infertile for up to 20 days after the termination of gossypol treatment. In a parallel experiment, the percent testes to body weight ratio in control and 7, 14, 21, and 28-day gossypol-treated quail was 2.5, 2.2, 1.8, 0.5, and 0.2%, respectively. In 12 vs 24-day treated birds, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after gossypol treatment, the ratios were 1.0 vs 0.5%, 2.0 vs 0.8% and 2.8 vs 1.9%, respectively. The decreased fertility and hatachability, and testicular atrophy resulting from gossypol given to male quail was dose-time related. Furthermore, the androgen-dependent cloacal gland was drastically reduced in size by the treatment with gossypol. The mode of action of gossypol in male quail is different than it is in mammals in that the testicular size of mammals remains unchanged with long-term gossypol treatment. It is concluded that quail may be a useful avian animal model for investigating the antifertility effects of gossypol.

Feeding, drinking and body temperature of Leghorn chicks: effects of ICV injections of biogenic amines.

The effects of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on food intake, water consumption and colonic body temperature (Tc) were investigated using Leghorn-type chicks. Food intake was not significantly affected by the intracerebroventricular injections of DA, NE or E. In contrast, 5-HT significantly decreased food intake in both sated and fasted chicks. Tc was significantly decreased by NE and E whereas DA and 5-HT prevented the decline seen in controls. Water consumption was not significantly affected by DA, NE or E; however, 5-HT increased water consumption of sated chicks and decreased water consumption in fasted ones. The feeding response of Leghorn chicks following ICV injection of these biogenic amines differs from that previously observed in the broiler-type chicks. This disparate response is discussed in relation to the different growth rates of the two types of birds.