Effects of sulfamethazine on induction of precocious puberty in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) assessed through monitoring the hormonal changes and gonadal development.
To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of sulfamethazine (SMZ) on growth performance, gonadal development and hormonal changes, male and female Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were fed a control diet with or without SMZ (0.2%) from one day post hatching until 6 weeks of age. In male quail, the deviation in growth performance between SMZ and control chicks started at the 3rd week, and the disparity was significant at the 5th and 6th weeks. Hormonal analysis revealed a substantial increase in the pituitary and circulating LH (at the 5th and 6th weeks), testicular and circulating testosterone (at the 6th week) and plasma ir-inhibin (at 5th week) levels following feeding of the diet containing SMZ. The testicular size and weights were significantly larger at the 5th week, and histological analysis demonstrated an enlargement of seminiferous tubules, filling of the luminal fluid with spermatozoa and a number of interstitial cells. In female quail, the body and ovarian weights were considerably increased at the 6th week. The SMZ supplemented group showed a significant elevation in pituitary LH content (from the 4th week), plasma LH (at the 5th and 6th weeks), ir-inhibin (at the 3rd and 6th week) and progesterone (at the 2nd, 5th and 6th weeks) as compared with control chicks. These results indicated that SMZ was able to stimulate the secretion of gonadotropins and accordingly the gonadal hormones and that was associated with an early gonadal function in male (at the 5th week) and female (at the 6th week) Japanese quail.
Department of Basic Veterinary Science, The United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
Manila
M
Sedqyar
Mohamed M M
MM
Kandiel
Qiang
Q
Weng
Kentarou
K
Nagaoka
Gen
G
Watanabe
Kazuyoshi
K
Taya
D000818:Animals; D017849:Animals, Inbred Strains; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003370:Coturnix / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000139:chemically induced; D011897:Random Allocation; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013418:Sulfamethazine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D013418:Sulfamethazine; D011374:Progesterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone