Growth of Japanese quail chicks in simulated weightlessness

Abstract

Hypodynamy is a method to simulate weightlessness in the earth laboratory conditions. The objective of this study was to study the effects of hypodynamy on the growth of the body and of the right leg of female Japanese quail chicks reared under these conditions from day 2 after hatching to 56 days of age. Therefore, body weight, food consumption, food conversion and length of femur, tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus of the quail chicks were recorded at weekly intervals. The effect of hypodynamy on these indices was significant (p < 0.001). The mean body weight of the test group after the 56-day hypodynamy was about 34% less than that of the age-matched control. The food consumption in both groups increased with age but in the hypodynamy quails it was 17% lower compared to control. Similarly, the food conversion of test birds was affected until day 42 of age except for day 14. The size of the femur in the hypodynamy group was reduced (by 0.7 mm) compared to the age-matched control at 56 days. The tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus of hypodynamy quails were shorter by 4.41 mm and 3.35 mm, respectively, at the end of experiment. Our results show that Japanese quail female chicks are capable to grow and develop under conditions of prolonged simulated weightlessness. Based on these results a similar experiment under conditions of real weightlessness in space may be considered.