Biomaterial Database

The biological effects of polybrominated biphenyls in avian species. 1977

R K Ringer, and D Polin

Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), structurally similar to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), affects feed intake, egg production, and hatchability of fertile eggs in chickens and quail. Subcutaneous edema of the neck and shoulder are common abnormalities of hatched chicks from PBB-fed dams. No characteristic teratogenicity is evident. Offspring hatched are less viable during their first 3 weeks of life. PBB does not produce thinner egg shells or lower egg weights. The ratio of PBB egg content to dietary level is 1.3-1.5:1.0. The biological half-life of PBB in eggs is calculated to be 17 days. Tissue residues are higher in males than females because egg production is a major excretory route for PBB. Polybrominated biphenyl feeding causes tissue changes in size, structure and/or function in the liver, thyroid, testes, comb, heart, spleen, bursa of Fabricus, and blood. Liver enlargement, porphyria and microsomal enzyme induction results from PBB administration. The spleen, bursa and comb are reduced in size, whereas the thyroid increases after PBB feeding. A characteristic of PBB and PCB toxicity is hydropericardium and general edema.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008297	Male		Males
D009928	Organ Specificity	Characteristic restricted to a particular organ of the body, such as a cell type, metabolic response or expression of a particular protein or antigen.	Tissue Specificity,Organ Specificities,Specificities, Organ,Specificities, Tissue,Specificity, Organ,Specificity, Tissue,Tissue Specificities
D009929	Organ Size	The measurement of an organ in volume, mass, or heaviness.	Organ Volume,Organ Weight,Size, Organ,Weight, Organ
D010058	Oviposition	The process of laying or shedding fully developed eggs (OVA) from the female body. The term is usually used for certain INSECTS or FISHES with an organ called ovipositor where eggs are stored or deposited before expulsion from the body.	Larviposition,Larvipositions,Ovipositions
D011075	Polybrominated Biphenyls	Biphenyl compounds which are extensively brominated. Many of these compounds are toxic environmental pollutants.	Polybromobiphenyl Compounds,Biphenyls, Polybrominated,Compounds, Polybromobiphenyl
D011078	Polychlorinated Biphenyls	Industrial products consisting of a mixture of chlorinated biphenyl congeners and isomers. These compounds are highly lipophilic and tend to accumulate in fat stores of animals. Many of these compounds are considered toxic and potential environmental pollutants.	PCBs,Polychlorinated Biphenyl,Polychlorobiphenyl Compounds,Biphenyl, Polychlorinated,Biphenyls, Polychlorinated,Compounds, Polychlorobiphenyl
D011784	Quail	Common name for two distinct groups of BIRDS in the order GALLIFORMES: the New World or American quails of the family Odontophoridae and the Old World quails in the genus COTURNIX, family Phasianidae.	Quails
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002645	Chickens	Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA.	Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken