Susan J. Harris

DDT induces a decrease in eggshell calcium.

Japanese quail fed o,p′, and p,p′-DDT produced eggs with thinner shells and lower calcium content than usual.

Polychlorinated Biphenyl-induced Decrease in Liver Vitamin A in Japanese Quail and Rats

Summary‘Aroclor 1242’ (PCB) or DDT increased liver weight and lipids and decreased liver vitamin A of male and female rats or male Japanese quail. Laying female quail did not show consistent changes, presumably due to mobilization of lipid and vitamin A for egg yolk. When egg laying was inhibited, PCB reduced liver vitamin A 50%. ‘Aroclor 1242’ reduced egg production, but had no effect on egg weight or eggshell thickness.

Effects of nonpersistent pesticides on liver weight, lipids and vitamin A of rats and quail

The effects of persistent pesticides on l iver l ip ids and vitamin A have been characterized. Repeated exposure of rats to DDT results in degenerative changes in l iver tissue, an increase in l iver size, and an increase in l i ver l ip ids. PHILLIPS (1963) and TINSLEY (1969) have also shown that DDT decreases u t i l i za t ion of carotene and l iver storaqe of vitamin A in rats and cattle. We recently reported that DDT or polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1242) fed to rats or ,Japanese quail produced an increase in liver weight and liver lipids and a decrease in liver vitamin A (CECIL et al. 1973).

Liver mixed function oxidases in chickens: induction by polychlorinated biphenyls and lack of induction by DDT.

Microsomal hydroxylase and demethylase activities were compared in livers from White Leghorn cockerels fed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) containing 21 to 68% chlorine, orp,p′-DDT. The higher chlorinated PCBs, Aroclor 1254 and 1268, were potent inducers of hepatic enzyme activity while DDT did not induce these enzymes. Aroclor 1254 was the most potent inducer because feeding 5 ppm increased liver aminopyrine demethylase activity 1.5X but did not affect liver weight. Feeding 50 and 500 ppm of Aroclor 1254 and 1268 increased liver weight and demethylase activity per mg of protein. A differential response in the two enzymes occurred. Only 500 ppm of Aroclor 1268 increased hydroxylase activity. Aroclor 1242 had no effect on liver enzyme concentration but 50 and 500 ppm of Aroclor 1242 increased liver weights and consequently increased total enzyme activity. Our data demonstrated that in the avian species DDT and PCB did not have the same effect on hepatic microsomal enzyme activity.