Effect of in ovo Leptin Administration on the Development of
Japanese Quail
D. LAMOŠOVÁ1, M. MÁČAJOVÁ1,
M. ZEMAN1,2, Š. MÓZEŠ3, D. JEŽOVÁ4
1Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics, Slovak Academy
of Sciences, Ivanka pri Dunaji, 2Department of Animal Physiology and
Ethology, Comenius University, Bratislava, 3Institute of Animal
Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice and 4Institute of
Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak
Republic
Received
March 11, 2002
Accepted June 25, 2002
Summary
Potential changes in the activity of endocrine axes related to
growth as a result of leptin administration during embryonic
development of birds were evaluated in the Japanese quail as a
model bird with fast growth and development. On day 5 of
incubation, 0.1 µg or 1 µg of recombinant mice leptin in 50 µl
of phosphate buffered saline were injected into the albumen of
eggs. Animals from each group were killed by decapitation on day
0, 2, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 and 56 of life. Plasma
concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4),
corticosterone, testosterone, total lipids, triacylglycerols,
cholesterol, glucose and alkaline phosphatase activity were
measured. Quail treated by leptin hatched earlier (5-24 hours)
and had a higher body weight than the control group
(P<0.05-0.001). Mean body weight across the whole observed
period was higher in both treated groups as compared to the
control group (P<0.05). Leptin in ovo administration was
accompanied by changes of endocrine and metabolic parameters
during postembryonic development. The most prominent changes
appeared immediately after hatching (T3, T4, total lipids,
triacylglycerols) and before sexual maturity. It is suggested
that leptin acts as a general signal of low energy status to
neuroendocrine systems in birds which improves utilization of
nutrients.
Key
words
Leptin • Japanese quail • In ovo manipulation • Postembryonic
development • Hormones
Reprint
requests
Ing. Dalma Lamošová, PhD, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and
Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Moyzesova 61, 900 28
Ivanka pri Dunaji , Slovak Republic. Fax: +421-2-45943-932,
E-mail:
ubgzlamo@nic.savba.sk
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