Quail spleen is enlarged by microcystin RR as a blue-green algal hepatotoxin.
Toxic effects of microcystin RR as a blue-green algal hepatotoxin in laboratory quails were examined. In order to determine the microcystin RR LD50, purified microcystin RR was injected into the peritoneum of the quails. The value obtained was 256 micrograms/kg quail. Usually the quails died between 14 and 18 hr after the injection. After administration of the toxin, the quail spleens were enlarged to a doubling of the control spleens, whereas the lives did not change. These effects are quite different from those in mice and rats, indicating the toxic mechanism of the toxin in quails is different.
Takahashi
S
S
Division of Environmental Chemistry, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan.
Kaya
K
K
D000818:Animals; D003370:Coturnix; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000633:toxicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C063855:microcystin RR