Effect of lead and chromium on reproductive success of Japanese quail.

An experimental model based on application of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) lines with high (H) and low (L) concentrations of plasma lactate was designed in order to investigate the effects of lead and chromium on embryonic development and reproductive success of experimental groups representing different genotypes. During the first stage of the trial, mature males from quail lines H and L (marked as generation T) were fed subchronically for 12 weeks with lead as Pb(NO(3))(2) and chromium as K(2)Cr(2)O(7) (dosage 0.8 and 0.142 g/kg, respectively, in the feed). In addition, a binary mixture of both lead and chromium was administered to the third group of males. The control group consisted of untreated birds. After mating with untreated females (8 female x 5 male in each group), progeny with four genotypes were obtained. The chicks were marked as generation F1 and used in the second stage of the trial. The data obtained show that heavy metals decreased the hatchability of sexually mature quail males: chromium (14%), lead (19%), and binary lead-chromium mixture (28%). Early embryonic mortality increased as much as 2-3 times. Single lead and binary lead-chromium additions decreased fertility after treating Japanese quail during the development of sexual maturity: lead increased the number of unfertile eggs up to 30% (twofold), binary lead and chromium, up to 50% (more than threefold) relative to untreated controls. There was no effect of chromium alone on fertility. In general, hatchability, fertility, embryonic mortality and reproductive success of Japanese quail were dependent on age, sex, genotypes, and on single or binary treatment with the inorganic salts of lead and chromium.