Abstract

We have previously described various effects in adult Japanese quail consequent on treatment with oestrogenic compounds in ovo. In the present study, the environmental contaminant o,p'-DDT [1-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane] was administered to quail eggs to further evaluate test endpoints for oestrogenic effects related to reproduction in the Japanese quail. Exposure to 2 mg o,p'-DDT/egg (150 mug/g egg) resulted in impaired sexual behaviour, reduced cloacal gland area and lowered plasma testosterone concentration in males. Females displayed oviductal abnormalities, including retained right oviduct, decreased length of left oviduct, alterations in shell gland morphology and disrupted distribution of carbonic anhydrase in the shell gland. Egg laying was severely impaired. Consequently, a number of endpoints in adult quail may be useful for demonstrating an oestrogen-like mode of action by environmental contaminants during embryonic development

Keywords

endocrine disruption; sexual behaviour; reproductive organs; japanese quail; o; p'-DDT

Published in

Archives of Toxicology
2003, Volume: 77, number: 2, pages: 116-122
Publisher: SPRINGER-VERLAG

SLU Authors

• Holm, Lena

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ridderstråle, Yvonne

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-002-0417-8

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/549