Effect of Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10 on Experimental Fracture in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica): Histopathological Evaluation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord- Iran.
2 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah- Iran.
10.22034/ijvcs.2025.15246.1140
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 on the healing process of experimentally induced fractures in Japanese quail. 40 adult male quails were randomly divided into four groups: Control, Q10 (30 mg/kg feed), Vitamin E (100 mg/kg feed), and a combination of vitamin E and Q10. Fractures were surgically created and stabilized using internal pins. Tissue samples were collected at days 7, 14, and 21 post-surgery for histopathological examination. At day 7, control birds exhibited primarily fibrous tissue and newly formed blood vessels, while treated groups showed a significant increase in fibroblasts and vascularization. By day 14, control samples consisted mainly of fibrous tissue with minimal hyaline cartilage, whereas the treatment groups displayed predominantly hyaline cartilage in the callus. At day 21, control animals mainly had fibrous and vascular tissue, whereas the groups receiving treatments showed small islands of hyaline cartilage, fibrous tissue, and newly formed bone, indicating advanced healing. Notably, the combination of vitamin E and Q10 produced the highest level of endochondral ossification and overall fracture repair. The results suggest that the synergistic effects of vitamin E and Q10 accelerate and enhance bone regeneration in avian models, with the combined therapy being most effective. These findings highlight the potential benefits of antioxidant supplementation in improving fracture healing.
Keywords
Subjects

1-Aslan, L; Yildirim, F. and Kibar, M; Treatment and rehabilitation of wild birds and mammals. Van Vet J; 2009; 20: 157-162.
2-Baer, J; Lansford, R. and Cheng, K; Japanese quail as a laboratory animal model. In: Fox JG, Anderson LC, Otto G, Pritchett-Corning KR, Whary MT, editors. Laboratory Animal Medicine. 2nd ed. San Diego: Academic Press; 2015; 1087–1108.
3-Bentov, Y; Esfandiari, N; Burstein, E. and Casper, RF; The use of mitochondrial nutrients to improve the outcome of infertility treatment in older patients. Fertil Steril; 2010; 93 (1): 272–5.
4-Borhanuddin, B; Mohd, F; NF, Naina. and Mohamed, I; Vitamin E and the healing of bone fracture: the current state of evidence. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med; 2012; 2012: 1–7.
5-Cervellati, R. and Greco, E; In vitro antioxidant activity of ubiquinone and ubiquinol, compared to vitamin E. Helv Chim Acta; 2016; 99 (1): 41–5.
6-Domazetovic, V; Marcucci, G; Iantomasi, T; Brandi, ML; Oxidative stress in bone remodeling: role of antioxidants. the Official Journal of the Italian Society of Osteoporosis, Mineral Metabolism, and Skeletal Diseases; 2017; 14 (2): 209-216. 
7-Huss, D; Poynter, G. and Lansford, R; Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) as a laboratory animal model. Lab Anim (NY); 2008; 37 (11): 513–9.
8-Irani, S; Zhandi, M; Sadeghi, M; Yousefi, AR; Marzban, H. and Rafieian-Naeini, HR; The effect of dietary supplementation of coenzyme Q10 on reproductive variables of cadmium-challenged male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). Vet Med Sci; 2022; 9 (2): 837–50.
9-James, AM; Smith, RAJ. and Murphy, MP; Antioxidant and prooxidant properties of mitochondrial coenzyme Q. Arch Biochem Biophys; 2004; 423 (1): 47–56.
10-Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) [Internet]. iNaturalist. [cited 2025 Jun 3]. Available from: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/791-Coturnix-japonica.
11-José L. and Quiles, José M; Romero-Márquez, María D. Navarro-Hortal, Maurizio Battino, Alfonso Varela-López, Chapter 17 - The role of coenzyme Q10 in the protection of bone health during aging, Academic Press; 2020; 173-182.
11-Kayıkcı, C; Kuşcu, Y; Durmuş, A. and Aslan, L; Fractures and Treatment Methods in Wild Avians. Van Vet J; 2019; 30 (2):115–9.
12-Kazemizadeh, A; Zare Shahneh, A; Zeinoaldini, S; Yousefi, AR; Mehrabani Yeganeh, H. and Ansari Pirsaraei, Z; Effects of dietary curcumin supplementation on seminal quality indices and fertility rate in broiler breeder roosters. Br Poult Sci; 2019; 60 (3): 256–64.
13-Khalil-Khalili, AA; Zhandi, M; Zaghari, M; Mehrabani-Yeganeh, H; Yousefi, AR. And Tavakoli-Alamooti, M; The effect of dietary organic selenium on reproductive performance of broiler breeder roosters under dexamethasone-induced stress. Theriogenology; 2021; 161: 16–25.
14-Kibar, M. and Bumin, A; Evaluation of gunshot-related fractures in birds of prey. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg; 2006; 12: 11-16.
15-Kothamdi, R; Pawde, A; Shivkumar, R; Singh, R; Kumar, A. and Kale, D; A retrospective study on the treatment of bone fractures in 14 wild birds. Intas Polivet; 2016; 17 (2): 420–3
16-Moghadamtousi, SZ; Fadaeian, S; Fattahi, A. and Safavi, SM; The role of vitamin E in bone metabolism and osteoporosisIranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research; 2015; 14 (4): 1257-1265.
17-Muta-Takada, K; Terada, T; Yamanishi, H; Ashida, Y; Inomata, S. and Nishiyama T; Coenzyme Q10 protects against oxidative stress-induced cell death and enhances the synthesis of basement membrane components in dermal and epidermal cells. Biofactors; 2009; 35 (5): 435–41.
18-Panda, AK. and Cherian, G; Role of vitamin E in counteracting oxidative stress in poultry. J Poult Sci; 2014; 51 (2): 109–17.
19-Rafieian-Naeini, HR; Zhandi, M; Sadeghi, M; Yousefi, AR. and Benson, A; Effects of coenzyme Q10 on reproductive performance of laying Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) under cadmium challenge. Poult Sci; 2021; 100 (11): 101-118.
20-Rafieian-Naeini, HR; Zhandi, M; Sadeghi, M; Yousefi, AR; Marzban, H. and Benson, AP; The effect of dietary coenzyme Q10 supplementation on egg quality and liver histopathology of layer quails under cadmium challenge. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr; 2022; 107 (2): 631–42.
21-Rajesh, K; Khan, MI; Mahesh, P; Kumar, SR. and Kumar, SS; Preclinical and clinical role of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in various pathological states. Drug Res; 2022; 20.
22-Roush, JK; Management of fractures in small animals. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract; 2005; 35 (5): 1137–54.
23-Sandukji, A; Al-Sawaf, HA; Mohamadin, AM; Alrashidi, Y. and Sheweita, SA; Oxidative stress and bone markers in plasma of patients with long-bone fixative surgery: role of antioxidants. Hum Exp Toxicol; 2010; 30 (6): 435–42.
24-Sheweita, SA. and Khoshhal, KI; Calcium metabolism and oxidative stress in bone fractures: role of antioxidants. Curr Drug Metab; 2007; 8 (5): 519–25.
25-Yamada T; Effects of vitamin E on osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism; 2016; 34 (3): 268-275.
26-Zhandi, M; Seifi-Ghajalo, E; Shakeri, M; Yousefi, AR; Sharafi, M. and Seifi-Jamadi, A; Effect of glutathione supplementation to semen extender on post-thawed rooster sperm quality indices frozen after different equilibration times. Cryo Lett; 2020; 41 (2): 92–9.
 27-Zhandi, M; Talebnia-Chalanbar, A; Towhidi, A; Sharafi, M; Yousefi, AR. And Hussaini, SMH; The effect of zinc oxide on rooster semen cryopreservation. Br Poult Sci; 2020; 61 (2): 188–94.