title: Effects of 4-nonylphenol in drinking water on the reproductive capacity of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica).
abstract: 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), a major degradation product of Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs), is widespread in environment. In this study, the effects of long-term 4-NP exposure in drinking water on Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) were investigated. A total of 45 quails were evenly divided into 15 groups and administrated with various doses (0.1 μg L-1, 1.0 μg L-1, 10 μg L-1and 100 μg L-1, which reflected the environmental concentrations of 4-NP) of 4-NP in drinking water. The results showed that 4-NP in drinking water had no effect on quails' food intake, but significantly decreased the quails' body weights (P < 0.05) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The egg fertilization rates were also significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in all treatment groups. Moreover, the hatchability was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in 10 μg L-1and 100 μg L-1groups, and the 14 d survival rates of young quails were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in 1.0 μg L-1, 10 μg L-1and 100 μg L-1groups. Damaged spermatogenesis in male quails was observed in all treatment groups. Therefore, administration of 4-NP in drinking water impaired the reproductive ability of Japanese quails, and led to pathological lesions in the male gonads.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, MEP, Nanjing 210042, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, MEP, Nanjing 210042, China.
authors.forename: Zhengjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, MEP, Nanjing 210042, China.
authors.forename: Junying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, MEP, Nanjing 210042, China.
authors.forename: Yuanqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. Electronic address: pengfuli@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Pengfu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China. Electronic address: chynies@163.com.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003370:Coturnix / Q000502:physiology*; D060766:Drinking Water; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D010636:Phenols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C041594:4-nonylphenol
keywords: 4-nonylphenol; Coturnix japonica; Drinking water; Reproductive ability; Toxicity