Divergent cloacal gland photo-responsiveness in male Japanese quail exposed to short days and associated differences in social interactions and reproduction.

Quail under short d (SD) reduce their gonadal development, and consequently their cloacal gland (CG) size, aggressiveness, sexual behaviors, and reproductive performance. However, some quail appear nonresponsive to SD inhibition. When male quail were arbitrarily classified according to their CG involution during maximum photoinhibition (5 wk after SD exposure) as either nonresponsive (NR-SD) or responsive (R-SD), NR-SD quail showed intermediate CG volume between R-SD quail and the control quail kept on long d (C-LD). Herein, we evaluate whether NR-SD and R-SD male Japanese quail differ in their social interactions and reproductive performance while under SD; C-LD males were used as fully reproductive control. First, we assessed over 4 consecutive d, brief (5-min) home cage encounters between individually housed C-LD, NR-SD, or R-SD males and an unfamiliar C-LD male visitor. To determine male reproductive capacity, the following wk, males received the visit (10-min) of a mature female over 3 consecutive days. C-LD, NR-SD, and R-SD resident males showed higher aggressiveness than their photostimulated male visitors, respectively, in 100, 64, and 0% of the studied cases and were also able to, respectively, fertilize 100, 100, and 15% of their female visitors. Second, male-female encounters were again repeated 4 wk later to further assess reproductive performance and behavior. Naive C-LD, NR-SD, and R-SD males also were evaluated to assess potential consequences of the previous male-male interactions on the later performance. The number of males performing aggressive pecks towards females showed a C-LD>NR-SD>R-SD pattern. While mounts, CG contacts, and reproductive capacity showed a C-LD = NR-SD>R-SD pattern, copulatory efficiency exhibited an NR-SD>C-LD = R-SD pattern. Sexual behaviors were not modulated by previous male-male brief social interactions. Findings suggest that NR-SD males are able to breed similarly to their C-LD counterparts, which could be considered an indicator of a reduced reproductive dependence on seasonal photoperiod cues. Differences in the expression of aggressions between NR-SD and C-LD males may underlie the observed NR-SD improved copulatory efficiency when interacting with females.

Monitoring free-living Japanese Bush Warblers (Cettia diphone) in a most highly radiocontaminated area of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

The Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1NPP) accident is an IAEA level 7 event, the same as that of Chernobyl, while the amount of radionuclides released is not comparable. Radioactivity attributed to the F1NPP accident was detected 250 km away from the F1NPP. Although we have not yet systematically studied the effect of radionuclides on the environment and wildlife, one of three Japanese Bush Warblers (Cettia diphone), captured in Akaugi district in August 2011, was observed to have a conspicuous lesion near the cloaca, which is rare in Japan. All of the birds' feathers were strongly contaminated. Further study is needed to determine the significance of this result. We emphasize the importance of continuing assessment of the effects of the F1NPP accident on wildlife.

Cloacal gland growth differences in high and low plasma corticosterone stress response line male quail reared under short daylengths.

Mail quail selected (generation 32) for reduced [low stress (LS)] or exaggerated [high stress (HS)] plasma corticosterone stress response to brief mechanical restraint (5 min of immobilization) were studied for differences in the growth of their cloacal glands when reared essentially lifelong on short day lengths of 8L:16D. Post-brooding, at 4 wk of age, 96 quail (48 LS+48 HS) were housed in cages (1 LS and 1 HS male/cage), and the short day light treatment was instigated. Using a digital caliper, cloacal gland (CG) size measurements (length and width, mm) were made biweekly beginning at 42 d of age and ending at 196 d of age (28 wk old). The CG volume (CVOL) was calculated from these measurements using a literature-proposed formula. The CVOL in both lines increased similarly with increasing age from 6 to 12 wk of age. However, beginning at 14 wk of age and thereafter, LS males showed greater (P<0.05) CVOL than HS ones. No further increases in CVOL were observed in either line at 24 wk of age beyond that seen at 22 wk. This study demonstrated that although both lines show CG development under short days, eventually CG growth becomes comparatively stymied in the HS males. Furthermore, the maintenance of similarly lower CVOL in HS than LS males, CVOL that showed no further increase from 22 to 24 wk of age, suggests that holding these quail lifelong on short days results in, comparatively, yet another permanent negative reproductive consequence in quail selected for exaggerated plasma corticosterone stress responsiveness.

Vaginal reconstruction using the bladder and/or rectal walls in patients with radiation-induced fistulas.

OBJECTIVE: In irreparable or recurrent vesicovaginal fistulas and cloacal defects following high-dose irradiation therapy for gynecological malignancies, urinary diversion is the last resort to achieve a socially acceptable solution. In a select group of young and tumor-free patients, additional vaginal reconstruction may be indicated. Multiple operative procedures are available, but the results are often disappointing in the previously irradiated area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In six such patients with large radiogenic vesicovaginal defects (n = 5) or a cloacal fistula (n = 1), a continent reservoir using the transverse colon with an umbilical stoma was performed. At the end of the operation, the bladder was incorporated into a neovagina by incising the urethra, anterior vaginal wall, and the posterior bladder wall with electrocautery from the urethral meatus to the dome of the fistula. RESULTS: No postoperative complications related to the vaginal reconstruction occurred. After a mean follow-up of 4.7 years, all patients had a capacious vagina and a wide introitus; the neovagina measured a mean of 18 cm in length. Five patients with a partner reported a normal sexual life. No dyspareunia or discomfort from bladder or urethral mucosa during intercourse was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Following continent urinary diversion due to irreparable vesicovaginal fistulas, a neovagina can be created by simple dissection of the posterior bladder and anterior vaginal wall. When a colostomy is present, the neovagina can additionally be augmented with a bowel flap of the Hartmann stump or by incising the rectovaginal septum. The technique affords good functional and cosmetic results.

Variations in the photoperiodic cloacal response of Japanese quail: association with testes weight and feather color.

The size of the cloacal gland was found to be a reliable indicator of testicular activity of Japanese quail. Six experiments were performed to examine the effects of alternating long and short photoperiod on the size of the cloacal gland of male Japanese quail. Three types of photoperiodic cloacal responses were distinguished. Type I birds became refractory to short photoperiods after they had experienced 5 weeks or more of short days. They maintained large cloacal glands under subsequent condition of alternating long and short photoperiod. Type II birds were intermediate types I and III birds did not become refractory to short photoperiods after experiencing 5 weeks or more of short days. The cloacal glands responded to conditions of alternating long and short photoperiods with increases or decreases in size. Feather color on the throat was found to correspond to the type of cloacal response. Type I birds had brick-red throat feathers. Type II birds had white feathers intermingled with brick-red feathers. Type III had white throat feathers. The percentages of types I, II, and III observed in the experimental population was 67, 18, and 15%, respectively. Type III birds were used to study the effects of blinding on the cloacal response to short photoperiod. Five out of eight blinded type III birds did not lose the responsiveness to short photoperiod. These results are consistent with the view that extraocular photoreceptors participate in the photoperiodic gonadal response of Japanese quail.