An overview of Jatropha curcas meal-induced productive and reproductive toxicity in Japanese quail: Potential mechanisms and heat detoxification

Abstract The present study was carried out to investigate the toxic effects of dietary inclusion of raw Jatropha cucas meal [RJM, 3.5%] on productive and reproductive performances of laying Japanese quail and the influence of physical treatment of jatropha meal by heating at [100 o c] for 24 or 48 h [JH 24 or JH 48 respectively] on reducing these effects. The inclusion of RJM in quail diets significantly decreased the egg production, fertility and hatchability percentages and resulted in a high mortality rate. While heat-treated jatropha meal [JH 24 or JH 48 ] improved such undesirable effects. The levels of hepatic proteins related to lipid synthesis, cholesterol metabolism and those related to lipid synthesis and transporting to egg yolk were increased in JH 24 and JH 48 groups than RJM group. Hepatic contents of vitellogenin [VGT-II] and estrogen receptor α [ERα] and circulating estradiol [E2] were improved in JH 48 than RJM and JH 24 groups however still under the control values. On the other hand, estrogen receptor β [ERβ] were restored to normal control value in both JH 24 and JH 48 groups. Histopathological investigation revealed that RJM produced various alterations in the histoarchitecture of liver, ovary and oviducts but these alterations were reduced in both JH 24 and JH 48 groups. From the obtained data we concluded that heating of jatropha meal for 24 h improved its nutritive value and increasing the time of heating is preferable for reduction of the most of toxic impacts indicating that heat treatment can convert toxic jatropha meal to an alternative protein source for livestock feed in a cheap and clean way without combining any other types of treatments.