Pathological changes produced in Japanese quail by ingestion of cadmium. [Coturnix coturnix japonica]

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1974 · J. Nutr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5650650

Richardson, M E; Spivey Fox, M R; Fry, Jr, B E

Histological sequelae of feeding 75 mg cadmium/kg of diet from hatching to 4 or 6 weeks of age were studied in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The effects of cadmium were compared with those of zinc and iron deficiencies at 4 weeks, and the protective effects of ascorbic acid against cadmium were investigated at 4 and 6 weeks. Testicular hypoplasia and growth retardation occurred in 4-week-old quail fed either cadmium-containing or zinc-deficient diets. Severe anemia and bone marrow hyperplasia were present in birds fed either cadmium-containing or iron-deficient diets. The morphological appearance of circulating erythrocytes was not the same with both treatments. Both heart ventricles were hypertrophied in response to cadmium at 6 weeks, whereas hypertrophy was not apparent microscopically at 4 weeks, even though the weight was significantly increased in relation to body weight. Left ventricular hypertrophy occurred in iron-deficient quail by 4 weeks. Enteropathy of the small intestine was more severe after 6 weeks of cadmium feeding than after 4 weeks. Cadmium caused decreased granules in the adrenal medullary cells at both 4 and 6 weeks of age. Conditions that were less severe at 6 than at 4 weeks of cadmium ingestion were: testicular development, anemia, and periodic acid-Schiff reactivity of esophageal mucus glands. Ascorbic acid added to the cadmium containing diet significantly alleviated or prevented almost all aspects of cadmium toxicity in quail at 4 and/or 6 weeks of age. It protected against some changes that were not observed in either zinc- or iron-deficient birds. 40 references, 22 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 5650650
• Journal Information: J. Nutr.; (United States), Vol. 103:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASCORBIC ACID
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIRDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
CADMIUM
INGESTION
TOXICITY
IRON
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
ZINC
ANEMIAS
BONE MARROW
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIET
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ERYTHROCYTES
ESOPHAGUS
HEART
SMALL INTESTINE
TESTES
WEIGHT
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GONADS
HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM
HEMIC DISEASES
INTAKE
INTESTINES
MALE GENITALS
MATERIALS
METALS
ORGANS
SYMPTOMS
TISSUES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
VITAMINS
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)