Abstract
As an endocrine disruptor, 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) is widespread in the environment. Here, we investigated the effect of long-term 4-NP dietary exposure on Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). A total of 72 quails were evenly divided into 24 cages (12 cages for the reproductive toxicity study and 12 cages for the histopathology study, with one male quail and two female quails in each cage) and fed with various doses of 4-NP in diet. The body weight in quails administered with 4-NP was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The egg fertilization rate significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in all treated groups, which was 91.4%, 86.5%, 85.4%, and 86.2% in the control group, 10 mg·kg−1, 20 mg·kg−1, and 50 mg·kg−1 treatment groups, respectively. Moreover, the hatching rate was also significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the 50 mg·kg−1 treatment group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the 14-day survival rate of young quails was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in all treated groups, which was 98.0%, 91.1%, 89.8%, and 86.8% in the control group, 10 mg·kg−1, 20 mg·kg−1, and 50 mg·kg−1 treatment groups, respectively. Damaged spermatogenesis in male quails was found in all treated groups. In conclusion, oral administration of 4-NP impaired the gonads of male quails, leading to reproduction performance damage of Japanese quails.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bu Y, Wang Z, Zhi Y (2014) Investigation and risk analysis of pesticide inert ingredients in pesticide products. Pesticides 53(12):932–936
Cheng Y, Shan Z, Zhou J (2017) Effects of 4-nonylphenol in drinking water on the reproductive capacity of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). Chemosphere 175:219–227
Fletcher JS, Nellessen JE, Pfleeger TG (1994) Literature review and evaluation of the EPA food-chain (KENAGA) nomogram, and instrument for estimating pesticide residues on plants. Environ Toxicol Chem 13:1383–1391
Fridolfsson A-K, Ellegren H (1999) A simple and universal method for molecular sexing of non-ratite birds. J Avian Biol 30:116–121
Fujita M, Kinoshita T, Yoshimura Y (2004) Concentration of orally administered nonylphenol in blood, liver and egg yolk of maternal Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). J Poult Sci 4:269–274
Hanafy A, Sasanami T, Mori M (2007) Sensitivity of expression of perivitelline membrane glycoprotein ZP1 mRNA in the liver of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) to estrogenic compounds. Comp Biochem Physiol 144:356–362
Ishihara A, Nishiyama N, Sugiyama S, Yamauchi K (2003) The effect of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on thyroid hormone binding to Japanese quail transthyretin and thyroid hormone receptor. Gen Comp Endocrinol 134:36–43
Jager C, Bornman MS, Van der Horst G (1999) The effect of p-nonylphenol, an environmental toxicant with oestrogenic properties, on fertility potential in adult male rats. Andrologia 31:99–106
Khosravinia H, Murthy H, Parasad DT, Pirany N (2010) Optimizing factors influencing DNA extraction from fresh whole avian blood. African J Biotech 6:481–486
Kinnberg K, Korsgaard B, Bjerregaard P (2000) Concentration-dependent effects of nonylphenol on testis structure in adult platyfish Xiphophorus maculates. Mar Environ Res 50:169–173
Lahnsteiner F, Berger B, Grubinger F, Weismann T (2005) The effect of 4-nonylphenol on semen quality, viability of gametes, fertilization success, and embryo and larvae survival in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquat Toxicol 71:297–306
Lu Z, Gan J (2014) Analysis, toxicity, occurrence and biodegradation of nonylphenol isomers: a review. Environ Int 73:334–345
Lye CM, Bentley MG, Galloway T (2008) Effects of 4-nonylphenol on the endocrine system of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas. Environ Toxicol 23:309–318
Nishijima K-I, Esaka K, Ibuki H, Ono K-I, Miyake K, Kamihira M, Iijima S (2003) Simple assay method for endocrine disrupters by in vitro quail embryo culture: nonylphenol acts as a weak estrogen in quail embryos. J Biosci Bioeng 95:612–617
OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals (206) (1984) Avian reproduction test
Oshima A, Yamashita R, Nakamura K, Wada M, Shibuya K (2012) In ovo exposure to nonylphenol and bisphenol A resulted in dose-independent feminization of male gonads in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) embryos. Environ Toxicol Chem 31:1091–1097
Preuss TG, Telscher M, Ratte HT (2008) Life stage-dependent bioconcentration of a nonylphenol isomer in Daphnia magna. Environ Pollut 156:1211–1217
Razia S, Soda K, Yasuda K, Tamotsu S, Oishi T (2005) Effects of estrogen (17b-estradiol) and p-nonylphenol on the development of immune organs in male Japanese quail. Environ Sci 12:99–110
Razia S, Maegawab Y, Tamotsu S, Oishi T (2006) Histological changes in immune and endocrine organs of quail embryos: exposure to estrogen and nonylphenol. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 65:364–371
Roig B, Cadiere A, Bressieux S, Biau S, Faure S, de Santa BP (2014) Environmental concentration of nonylphenol alters the development of urogenital and visceral organs in avian model. Environ Int 62:78–85
Sakimura M, Tsukada A, Usami M, Hanzawa S, Saito N, Ohno Y, Shimada K (2002) Effect of estradiol and nonylphenol on mRNA expression of estrogen receptors and, and cytochrome P450 aromatase in the gonad of chicken embryos. J Poult Sci 39:302–309
Yoshimura Y, Chowdary VS, Fujita M, Maeda T, Obitsu T (2002) Effects of nonylphenol injection into maternal Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) on the female reproductive functions of F1 generation. J Poult Sci 39:266–273
Yuan HX, Xu X, Sima YH, Xu SQ (2013) Reproductive toxicity effects of 4-nonylphenol with known endocrine disrupting effects and induction of vitellogenin gene expression in silkworm, Bombyx mori. Chemosphere 93:263–268
Funding
This work was supported by the Special Fund for Environmental Scientific Research in the Public Interest (grant no. 2013467026).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.
Informed consent
Not applicable.
Additional information
Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cheng, Y., Shan, Z., Zhou, J. et al. Effects of long-term 4-nonylphenol dietary exposure on reproductive ability of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 2908–2917 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3820-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3820-2