Effect of methimazole-induced hypothyroidism on adrenal and gonadal functions in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).
To investigate the effect of hypothyroidism on gonadal and adrenal functions in male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), hypothyroidism was induced in male adult Japanese quail by daily administration of 2-Mercapto-1-methylimidazole (methimazole) in their drinking water. Four weeks after methimazole treatment, the Japanese quail were sacrificed, and the plasma concentrations of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), total T3 (TT3), total T4 (TT4), corticosterone, testosterone, LH and immunoreactive (ir) inhibins were measured by radioimmunoassay, the testes and adrenal glands were removed and weighed and the thyroid glands and testes were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for histological observation. The results showed that the hypothyroidism induced by methimazole caused a significant decrease in body and testes weight; the plasma levels of FT3, FT4 and TT4 significantly decreased, and the hypothyroid quail possessed a greater number of small follicles and more follicular epithelial cells in the thyroid gland. In addition, hypothyroidism resulted in a significant decrease in the plasma concentrations of corticosterone, LH, testosterone and ir-inhibin. Furthermore, no spermatogenesis was found in the seminiferous tubules of the methimazole treatment groups. These results clearly demonstrate that hypothyroidism caused both gonadal and adrenal disturbances in the adult male Japanese quail.
Weng
Qiang
Q
College of Biological Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China. weng3@msn.com
Saita
Erina
E
Watanabe
Gen
G
Takahashi
Shinji
S
Sedqyar
Manila
M
Suzuki
Akira K
AK
Taneda
Shinji
S
Taya
Kazuyoshi
K
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D001835:Body Weight; D003370:Coturnix; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole; D009929:Organ Size; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D008713:Methimazole