Long-term effect of yolk carotenoid levels on testis size in a precocial bird.
Conditions experienced during prenatal development can have long-lasting organizational effects on offspring. Maternal carotenoids deposited in the eggs of birds and other oviparous species play an important role during fast embryonic growth and chick development through their antioxidant properties. However, the long-term consequences of variation in maternal carotenoid transfer for the offspring have seldom been considered. Since plasma carotenoid levels at adulthood are known to influence testis size and yolk carotenoid levels influence the ability to extract carotenoids later in life, we hypothesized that maternally transmitted carotenoids might influence gonad size at adulthood. Here, we showed that male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) originating from a carotenoid-enriched egg had smaller testes than control individuals at adulthood. This result shows that yolk carotenoids have long-term organizational effects. In addition, given that carotenoid intake at sexual maturity increases sperm quality and that a decreased testis size is associated with a lower sperm production, we propose that carotenoid exposure during embryo development might influence a trade-off between ejaculate size and sperm quality.
Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK giraudeau.mathieu@gmail.com.
Mathieu
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8563-1810
M
Giraudeau
Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Ann-Kathrin
AK
Ziegler
Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Barbara
B
Tschirren
D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003370:Coturnix / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D014975:Lutein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors
D002338:Carotenoids; D014975:Lutein
carotenoids; long-term effects; maternal effects; testis size