The Effect of Prolactin on Reproductive Function in Female Japanese Quail {Coturnix coturnix japonica) P. M. CAMPER and W. H. BURKE

Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108 (Received for publication October 12, 1976)

Poultry Science 56:1130-1134, 1977

INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prolactin has been reported to cause gonadal regression in the hen (Bates et al., 1935), the rooster (Breneman, 1942; Nalbandov, 1945), the pigeon (Bates et al, 1937), the whitethroated sparrow (Meier, 1969), the Indian weaverbird (Thapliyal and Saxena, 1964), and some passerine species (Lofts and Marshall, 1956; Meier and Dusseau, 1968; Meier, 1969). Other passerines did not undergo gonadal regression in response to prolactin treatment (Meier and Dusseau, 1968). Although it did not cause gonadal regression, prolactin has been shown to interrupt egg laying in Japanese quail (Alexander and Wolfson, 1970) and in California quail (Jones, 1969). In contrast, Renzoni (1970) reported that prolactin had no effect on ovarian function of Coturnix, but did have a slight effect on testicular function. While early work (Breneman, 1942; Nalbandov, 1945) indicated that prolactin would induce testicular regression in chickens, Shani et al. (1973) failed to confirm this.

Female Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) from the University of Wisconsin colored egg strain were used for these studies. Eggs were hatched using standard incubation practices. Prior to use in these experiments, the birds were housed under continuous light. Birds were transferred to a 15L:9D photoperiod (lights on 0600—2100 hr.), placed in individual cages and egg production records obtained for 2 weeks prior to these studies. Daily egg production records were also kept during the experiments. Ovine prolactin (NIH-P-S11; 26.4 I.U./mg.) was dissolved in 0.14 M NaCl by adding a few jLtl. of NaOH. In Experiment 1, birds received subcutaneous injections of either 16 I.U. of prolactin in 0.25 ml. saline or 0.25 ml. saline twice daily (0700-0800 hr. and 1800-1900 hr.) for 14 days. On day 15 all birds were weighed and killed by decapitation. The ovaries and oviducts were removed and their wet weights were recorded. Blood was collected in test tubes, allowed to clot overnight at 4°C. and centrifuged (30 minutes, X l 5 0 0 g ) . The serum was decanted and LH levels were determined by radioimmunoassay using the assay of Wentworth et al. (1976). The experiment was repeated twice more using the same procedures, except that the treatment period was shortened to 7 days. LH levels were not determined in the

This study was conducted to re-examine the effect of prolactin on the gonads of female Japanese quail, and, in addition, to determine the effects of prolactin treatment on serum LH.

Scientific Journal Series paper number 9672 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

1130

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ABSTRACT The anti-gonadal or anti-gonadotropic actions of prolactin in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were re-investigated. Treatment of mature regularly laying quail with 16 I.U. of ovine prolactin (NIH-P-S11) per day for 7 or 14 days caused significant (P £ £ 0

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