Japanese Quail as a Model System for Studying the Neuroendocrine Control of Reproductive and Social Behaviors

Ball, Gregory F.; Balthazart, Jacques

doi:10.1093/ilar.51.4.310

Cited by 93 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 137 publications

(201 reference statements)

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“…Moreover, the correlation coefficient between area of cloacal gland with testicular size, testosterone level and fertility percent was found to be high and ascertained statistically (Biswas et al, 2007). Hence, cloacal gland area provides an external statistic for the quality of androgen status in the male quails during sexual maturation (Ball and Balthazart, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Testicular Functions and Sexual Behavior in Male Japanese Quail after Exposure to Bisphenol A

Hanafy¹,

Khalil²,

Abdel-Rahi³

et al. 2015

Asian J. of Poultry Science

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Recently, with the world progress of industries, several adverse factors such as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) have appeared. These contaminants have negative devastating effects on the reproductive performance in a large number of domestic and wildlife animal species. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the reproductive and physiological changes due to pre-pubertal exposure of Japanese quail males to Bisphenol A (BPA) as one of EDCs (BPA is a synthetic chemical acts as estrogenic effect). Three weeks old male quails were weekly injected intra-peritoneally (at 3, 4 and 5 weeks old) with BPA at doses of 0, 1, 5, or 10 mg kgG 1 b.wt. After 6 weeks exposure of BPA, time of sexual libido, semen characteristics, fertility percent, sexual organs development, histopathology of testes were examined and plasma testosterone concentrations were estimated. The results showed that BPA has adverse and deterioration effects on most of the studied traits. The males received 5 and 10 mg BPA showed significantly delayed time of sexual libido compared with control group. Also, males received 5 mg BPA showed significantly reduced semen volume and cloacal gland area compared with control males. The lowest initial motility and fertility percent (p#0.05) were detected in 10 mg group while the highest values were obtained in the control group. Males treated with 1 and 10 mg BPA had lower (p = 0.028) foam production than those produced in control males. Plasma concentrations of testosterone were significantly reduced (p<0.000) in all treated groups compared with control group. Histologically, the growth of the testes was negatively affected by exposure to/or over 1 mg kgG 1 BPA: Namely, the development of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenesis were severely inhibited compared with control testes. It could be concluded that exposure to estrogenic effects of environmental endocrine disruptors such as BPA before/at puberty lead to malformation of reproductive organs and reduction of reproductive capacity which appears not to regenerate in adult male quail.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Testicular Functions and Sexual Behavior in Male Japanese Quail after Exposure to Bisphenol A

Hanafy¹,

Khalil²,

Abdel-Rahi³

et al. 2015

Asian J. of Poultry Science

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“…Also a high degree of correlation was established between the area of cloacal gland with testicular size (Follett and Maung, 1978), testosterone level (Mohan et al, 2002) and fertility (Biswas et al, 2007). Hence, it provides an external marker of the circulating androgen (Ball and Balthazart, 2010). However, after discontinuing DEX administration on day 14 of the experimental period it was found that both body weight and cloacal gland area of male quail recovered to the normal levels within 4 weeks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Chronic Dexamethasone Administration on Reproductive Parameters and Semen Traits in Male of Japanese Quail

Hanafy¹,

Khalil²

2015

Asian J. of Poultry Science

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The present study was conducted to determine the effects of chronic Dexamethasone (DEX) administration on physiological traits and semen characteristics in male Japanese quail breeders. Forty five 20 week old male quail were distributed into 3 experimental groups. All groups were fed on the same basal diet and administered with different levels of DEX, at 0 (as a control group), 0.25 and 0.50 mg/bird/day orally for 14 consecutive days. Body weight, feed intake, cloacal gland area and fertility percentage were recorded. Also, male genital organs were investigated and semen characteristics were estimated at the end and after 28 days of administration ended. Serum testosterone and corticosterone levels were analyzed by ELISA. The results revealed that, there were no significant effects of ingested DEX at different levels on body weight, feed intake and testes weight of the male Japanese quail breeders. However, the administration of DEX at 0.25 and 0.50 mg/bird decreased significantly cloacal gland area, foam production, sperm motility and viability and testosterone level. Also, treatments with DEX increased Time of Sexual Libido (TSL), Methylene Blue Reaction Time (MBRT) and serum corticosterone level compared with control group. Also, significant decrease in fertility percentage was observed after male exposure to DEX. Even after 4 weeks from administration ended, libido and sperm motility were significantly impaired. Also, significant negative correlations were found between serum corticosterone level and most studied traits. Our results indicated that chronic DEX administration had markedly effects on the reproductive performance of male quail for several weeks even after exposure to a stressors ends.

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“…The present review presents a synthesis of recent work carried out in our laboratory on the acute control of male sexual behaviour by brain-derived oestrogens and on the mechanisms that control their local synthesis by aromatase. These studies were conducted in Japanese quail, capitalising on the abundance of brain aromatase expressed in the avian brain (compared to mammals) and the tight regulation of reproductive behaviour by steroids in this species (17).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Control of Reproductive Behaviour by Locally Synthesised Oestrogens: Focus on Aromatase

Cornil

Seredynski

Bournonville

et al. 2013

J Neuroendocrinology

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Oestrogens activate nucleus-and membrane-initiated signalling. Nucleus-initiated events control a wide array of physiological and behavioural responses. These effects generally take place within relatively long periods of time (several hours to days). By contrast, membrane-initiated signalling affects a multitude of cellular functions in a much shorter timeframe (seconds to minutes). However, much less is known about their functional significance. Furthermore, the origin of the oestrogens able to trigger these acute effects is rarely examined. Finally, these two distinct types of oestrogenic actions have often been studied independently such that we do not exactly know how they cooperate to control the same response. The present review presents a synthesis of recent work carried out in our laboratory that aimed to address these issues in the context of the study of male sexual behaviour in Japanese quail, which is a considered as a suitable species for tackling these issues. The first section presents data indicating that 17b-oestradiol, or its membrane impermeable analogues, acutely enhances measures of male sexual motivation but does not affect copulatory behaviour. These effects depend on the activation of membrane-initiated events and local oestrogen production. The second part of this review discusses the regulation of brain oestrogen synthesis through post-translational modifications of the enzyme aromatase. Initially discovered in vitro, these rapid and reversible enzymatic modulations occur in vivo following variations in the social and environment context and therefore provide a mechanism of acute regulation of local oestrogen provision with a spatial and time resolution compatible with the rapid effects observed on male sexual behaviour. Finally, we discuss how these distinct modes of oestrogenic action (membrane-versus nucleus-initiated) acting in different time frames (short-versus long-term) interact to control different components (motivation versus performance) of the same behavioural response and improve reproductive fitness.

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Japanese Quail as a Model System for Studying the Neuroendocrine Control of Reproductive and Social Behaviors

Cited by 93 publications

References 137 publications

Testicular Functions and Sexual Behavior in Male Japanese Quail after Exposure to Bisphenol A

Testicular Functions and Sexual Behavior in Male Japanese Quail after Exposure to Bisphenol A

Influence of Chronic Dexamethasone Administration on Reproductive Parameters and Semen Traits in Male of Japanese Quail

Rapid Control of Reproductive Behaviour by Locally Synthesised Oestrogens: Focus on Aromatase

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