Delayed reproductive development resulting from aflatoxicosis in juvenile Japanese quail

Aflatoxicosis was induced in young Japanese quail. In the first experiment five replicates of 30 birds per treatment were fed a soy-corn basal ration containing 0, 5, or 10 microgram aflatoxin per gram of feed from 1 to 3 weeks of age. At 3 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and mesurements taken. In the second experiment, 0 to 10 microgram aflatoxin per gram of diet were fed from either 1 to 3 weeks of age or 2 to 4 weeks of age. At 3 weeks of age body weights were significantly (P < .05) reduced and relative liver weights were significantly (P < .05) increased. Testicular weights relative to body weight were depressed by up to 50%. Ovary wet weights, but not relative weights, were reduced. Testicular development (weight) was impaired through 6 weeks of age. Ovarian development, determined both by weight and number of developing follicles, was delayed as long as 3 weeks following withdrawal of aflatoxin from the diet. Radioimmunoassay for circulating androgens revealed that aflatoxin suppressed both the onset of production and the final concentratin of male hormone. The data demonstrate that aflatoxin can exert a deleterious inhibition of sexual development in quail with subsequent impairment of reproductive capacity. These findings raise the implication of potential reproductive failure in economically important species such as broiler breeders.