Dispersal of Atherosclerotic Susceptible and Resistant Lines of Coturnix Quail

February 27, 2020 | by Sam Shafer

The Prestage Dept of Poultry Science at North Carolina State University is announcing the dispersal of two genetic lines of Coturnix Quail. The two lines were associated with research on atherosclerosis and were originally developed by Dr Jason Shih in 1983. A new animal model of atherosclerosis has been developed through genetic selection of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) into susceptible (SUS) and resistant (RES) lines. Characterization of the selected quail has shown that the RES birds were resistant to the disease and developed little atherosclerosis on a diet containing 1% cholesterol. The SUS birds were sensitive and developed severe atherosclerosis in 8–9 wks on a diet containing only 0.5% cholesterol. The histology of the progression of atherosclerosis in the SUS quail was studied. It bore a morphological similarity to that of human arterial atherosclerosis. The atherosclerotic plaque was characterized by intimal thickening, the presence of foam cells, the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and/or fibroblasts, and the formation of scar with collagen deposition. We believe that these two lines of quail may serve as a valid animal model for the study of the genetic and biochemical basis of cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis.

These Quail are set to be removed from the breeding population in the department. We are making them available to researchers who may be interested in conducting research using this animal model. If you are interested, please contact either of the following professors.

Original publication by J. Shih regarding the susceptible (SUS) and resistant (RES) lines

Shih, J.C., Pullman, E.P. and Kao, K.J., 1983. Genetic selection, general characterization, and histology of atherosclerosis-susceptible and-resistant Japanese quail. Atherosclerosis, 49(1), pp.41-53.

Recent studies using the susceptible (SUS) and resistant (RES) lines

Li, Xinrui, Patricia Schulte, David V. Godin, and Kimberly M. Cheng. 2012. Differential mRNA expression of seven genes involved in cholesterol metabolism and transport in the liver of atherosclerosis-susceptible and-resistant Japanese quail strains." Genetics Selection Evolution 44, no. 1: 20.

Liu S, Bennett DC, Tun HM, Kim JE, Cheng KM, Zhang H, Leung FC. 2015. The effect of diet and host genotype on ceca microbiota of Japanese quail fed a cholesterol enriched diet. Frontiers in microbiology. 6:1092.

Liu, S., Tun, H. M., Leung, F. C., Bennett, D. C., Zhang, H., & Cheng, K. M. 2018. Interaction of genotype and diet on small intestine microbiota of Japanese quail fed a cholesterol enriched diet. Scientific reports, 8(1): 1-15.