title: The effects of busulfan on gonadal differentiation and development in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
abstract: To determine the effects on gonadal differentiation and development, two concentrations of busulfan (1,4-butanediol dimethanesulfonate) were injected into the albumen of unincubated Japanese quail eggs, and the eggs were then incubated. Half of the hatchlings were killed at 3 days of age and the rest at 10 wk of age (4 wk past puberty). Hatchability of fertile eggs was lowest in those eggs injected with 420 micrograms of busulfan (19.6%), intermediate in the 210-micrograms group (54.7%), and highest in the sham-injected control group (73.3%). Gonads were examined histologically for germ cells and normal development. All 23 birds evaluated after injection with 210 micrograms of busulfan had histologically normal gonads. In the 420-micrograms group, six out of eight birds were abnormal. Three females and one male in this group had gonads lacking germ cells, and two males had testicles with a combination of normal seminiferous tubules and tubules lacking spermatogonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hallett
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wentworth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002066:Busulfan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003370:Coturnix / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D002066:Busulfan