Effect of Intraperitoneal Injection of Bisphenol-A on Egg Production and Quality Traits in Japanese Quail

This experiment was carried out during winter season 2015, at the Poultry Farm, Department of AnimalProduction, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. A total of 40 immature female Japanesequail exposed to different levels of Bisphenol-A (BPA) was examined. Three-week-old, quails were individuallyweighted and divided into four groups 10 females' birds in each. The BPA was dissolved in corn oil andintraperitoneally injected weekly in the abdominal cavity of quail for three consecutive weeks (3rd through 5th wksold). The experimental groups were treated by a solution containing (0, 1, 5 and 10 mg BPA/kg BW). During theexperimental period, eggs were collected from each group to estimate egg production and quality traits. At 14 weeksof age, all hens were weighed and then slaughtered in order to collect blood samples to determine serumconcentrations of estradiol-17β hormone. The result showed that exposure of female quail before/at puberty to BPAdelayed initiation of egg production. While the age at first egg in control female was at 47 days of age, consequently,the BPA treated females were slower to reach 50% of their final laying rate. The laying rate of eggs in the control notsignificantly higher than the rate of egg production in all the BPA treatment groups, with the exception of the 10 (mgBPA /kg BW group). BPA treated females showed drastically reduced egg quality compared to controls even with aminimal dose of 1 (mg BPA /kg BW group). Shell thickness and internal quality units were significantly linearlydecreased, but egg shape index was significantly linearly increased with increased BPA dose compared with controlgroup. The lowest ovarian follicle number and oviduct length were detected in 10 (mg BPA/kg BW group), while thehighest values were obtained in 5 (mg BPA/kg BW group). All tested BPA concentrations significantly influencedthe egg production and egg quality in female quail indicating a lowest observed effect concentration of 10 (mgBPA/kg BW). Significant increases of female's body weight and reproductive organ after BPA administration wererecorded, as females produced pre-ovulatory follicles at all tested BPA levels it is presumed that BPA did not affectoogenesis but affect the process of ovulation, the highest values of body weight and reproductive organs of females inthe 5 (mg BPA/kg BW group), estradiol concentration was increased in BPA-treated groups. It could be concludedthat the BPA treatment decreased body weight and delayed puberty and initiation of egg production in female quail.The effect of BPA exposure is proportional to the dose and varies depending on the time of administration.