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Retinoic Acid Accelerates the Development of Reproductive Organs and Egg Production in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)¹

^a Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan ^b Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Mine-machi, Utsunomiya-shi, 321-8505, Japan

ABSTRACT

The effects of retinoic acid on the development of reproductive organs and egg production in female Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were investigated. Female quail were fed a diet containing retinoic acid at 4 mg/kg (RA) or two diets containing retinyl acetate at 5000 IU/kg (VA1) or 14 000 IU/kg (VA2) after being fed a vitamin A-free diet for 2 wk (experiment 1). The oviduct and ovary grew more rapidly (P < 0.05) in RA-treated quail than in VA-treated quail at 5 wk of age. In addition, the body weight of RA-fed quail was also greater (P < 0.05) than that of VA-fed quail at 5 wk. The RA-treated quail laid their first eggs approximately 5 days earlier (P < 0.05) than the VA-treated quail. Furthermore, these RA-fed quail laid more eggs (P < 0.05) than those VA-fed quail during the experimental period. To confirm the results of experiment 1, a similar experiment was conducted to record the first egg and total eggs laid by quail fed VA2 or RA (experiment 2). The early onset of oviposition was again observed in the RA-treated group (P < 0.01). These results suggest that retinoic acid has a stimulating effect on the reproductive system of female Japanese quail, as has been previously shown in the reproductive system of male Japanese quail.

FOOTNOTES

First decision: 23 May 2000.

¹ Supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research (9876071) and by a Grant-in-Aid for the Japan Society for Promotion of Science Fellows to Z.F. (98218) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan.

² Correspondence: Hisanori Kato, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan. FAX: 81 3 5841 5114; akatoq{at}mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp