Effect of chronic progesterone injection on egg production in Japanese quail

Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio 44691-4096, USA.

Young laying turkey hens ceased laying and developed a polycystic ovarian follicle (PCOF) syndrome 3 wk after injections of progesterone (P4) ceased. It was hypothesized that laying Japanese quail chronically injected with progesterone (P4) would respond with reduced or arrested egg production and altered ovarian morphology similar to that seen in turkeys expressing the PCOF syndrome, and could thus serve as a model to study the PCOF syndrome. To test these hypotheses, 6 trials were conducted with young photosensitive Japanese quail photostimulated to induce sexual maturity with either 24L:0D or 14L:10D at 6 or 8 wk of age, and used after 3 to 5 wk of egg production. The quail were injected once daily at dosages of 0, 0.17, 0.33, 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, or 4.5 mg of P4/kg per d, or twice daily at dosages of 0 and 1.5 mg of P4/kg for 8 to 14 d and were then necropsied 1 d after the last injection or after waiting an additional 8 to 14 d. During the injection period, egg production was not different among P4 dosages <1.5 mg of P4/kg per d, but decreased at dosages of 1.5 mg of P4/kg per d or greater. A decrease in egg production was found with twice daily injections of 1.5 mg of P4/kg. The decrease in egg production rate ceased and egg production resumed 5 to 7 d after the last injections of 3.0 and 4.5 mg of P4/kg per d or twice-daily injections of 1.5 mg of P4/kg. Compared with control hens, a high percentage of hens (from 12 to 75%) held a hard-shelled egg in the uterus during single daily injections at dosages of 3.0 and 4.5 mg of P4/kg per d and twice daily injections of 1.5 mg of P4/kg. Ovary and oviductal weights, and number of hierarchical follicles were not changed after chronic P4 injection, but more atretic follicles were found in hens at the end of 8 to 12 d of P4 injection. In conclusion, a decreasing egg production rate was induced by chronic P4 injection, but the decrease ceased and egg production resumed 5 to 7 d after the last injections in laying Japanese quail. Young quail hens, unlike young turkey hens, did not develop a PCOF-like syndrome after P4 injection.