Changes in liver glutathione S-transferase activities in Coturnix quail fed municipal sludge-grown cabbage with reduced levels of glucosinolates.

Cabbage, green beans, or seeds from sunflowers grown either on municipal sewage sludge-amended soil or soil alone were fed to male and female Coturnix quail, as 50% of a complete diet, for 5 weeks. Specific activities of liver glutathione S-transferase (GST) were similar in all quail fed the latter two plant diets and also similar to quail fed a nonplant, control diet. Sludge-grown cabbage-treated quail exhibited liver GST activities significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than levels of liver GST in birds fed the other plants, with a further twofold activity increase in quail fed the soil-grown cabbage. This response seems to be correlated with the levels of glucosinolates present in the cabbage, i.e., 3040 and 9253 ppm (dry basis) in the sludge-grown and soil-grown cabbage, respectively.