en Bioaccumulation of Lead in the Tissues of Japanese Quails and Its Effects on Blood Biochemical Factors تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Background:</strong> Lead is the oldest known toxic metal, physiologically and biologically harmful to living creatures. This study aimed to evaluate the lead accumulation in the liver and breast muscles of Japanese quail (<em>Coturnix japonica</em>) and to compare concentrations in both sexes and its effect on blood biochemical factors.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Methods:</strong> Twenty-four young farm Japanese quails (25 day old) prepared from local breeders in December 2014 and randomly divided into control and treatment group. Treatment group were exposed to 0.4 mg per kg diet of &ldquo;Lead Acetate&rdquo; for 21 days. We studied the effects of lead on survival and blood biochemical factors. The lead accumulation in the liver and breast muscles of Japanese quail was determined using atomic absorption.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Results:</strong> Exposure to lead caused a significant increase in the activity of enzymes (AST), (ALT), (LDH), glucose, creatinine and uric acid in poultry treated with lead compared with the control group (<em>P</em><0.05). In addition, significant decrease in the activity of ALP, AChE, total protein, albumin, globulin, and <a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1">triglycerides</a> was found (<em>P</em><0.05). The treated group had no significant change in the activity of CPK and cholesterol. Lead accumulation was more in the liver rather than the breast muscle. There was no significant difference between males and females as for concentration of lead in muscle and liver of quail.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Quail have capabilities to accumulate lead in their tissues. In addition, it can lead to apparent changes in enzymes and blood biochemical factors, which show adverse effects of heavy metals on the immune and physiological system of birds.</p> Bioaccumulation, Biochemical Factors, Japanese Quail, Lead 13 21 http://ijt.arakmu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-315-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Fatemeh Hamidipour فاطمه حمیدی پور fhp1380@yahoo.com 100319475328460011154 100319475328460011154 Yes MSc. student Environmental pollution, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran. MSc. student Environmental pollution, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran. Hamidreza Pourkhabbaz حمیدرضا پورخباز 100319475328460011155 100319475328460011155 No Department of Environment, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran. Department of Environment, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran. Mahdi Banaee مهدی بنایی 100319475328460011156 100319475328460011156 No Department of Aquaculture, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran. Department of Aquaculture, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran. Saeideh Javanmardi سعیده جوانمردی 100319475328460011157 100319475328460011157 No Department of Environment, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran. Department of Environment, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran.