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Embryo Mortality in Quail Induced by Cyclopropene Fatty Acids: Reduction by Maternal Diets High in Unsaturated Fatty Acids¹

Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607

Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) hens were dosed orally with 30 mg/day of Sterculia foetida oil. The dosing resulted in increased embryo mortality, increased ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in yolk, decreased desaturation of stearic-1-¹⁴C acid by hen-liver homogenates, and high levels of cyclopropene fatty acids in yolk. Injection of up to 25 mg of S. foetida oil/egg into eggs from nondosed quail did not affect embryo mortality as compared with corn oil-injected controls. Addition of 5 or 10% of crude oleic acid to the diets of hens treated with 60 mg/day of S. foetida oil reduced embryo mortality and the ratios of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk as compared to control. Oleic acid feeding had no effect on cyclopropene content of eggs. The results suggest that the embryo mortality associated with maternal ingestion of cyclopropene fatty acids is due to the increased ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk and not to direct cyclopropene effects on the embryo.

² Present address: Farm Bureau Cooperative, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Manuscript received 3 December 1969.