Affiliation:
1. Poultry Breeding Department Agricultural Research Centre, Animal Production Research Institute Giza Egypt
2. Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Production Department Suez Canal Universities Ismailia Egypt
3. Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture Zagazig University Zagazig Egypt
4. Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences King Saud University Riyadh Saudi Arabia
5. Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area (DiMePRe‐J) Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ Valenzano Italy
Abstract
AbstractTo investigate the effect of age in male quail on testicular weight and histology, sexual libido and semen characteristics, a study was performed on 100 quails at 10, 16, 22, 28 and 34 weeks of age. The body and testicular weights were significantly (p < .05) higher at 16 and 22 than at 28 weeks of age. The circumference and diameter of the seminiferous tubules were significantly (p < .05) higher at 28 and 34 than at 10 and 16 weeks of age. Histological evaluation of testicular slices revealed advanced and effective seminiferous tubes as early as 10 weeks, while spermatogenic activity peaked at 16 weeks of age. The highest semen volume, sperm motility and sperm concentration were observed at weeks of age and then decreased gradually with age. At the same time, the testosterone level and libido were significantly (p < .05) higher at 22 than at 10 weeks of age. Furthermore, the age was positive (p < .05), correlated to seminiferous tubule circumference and diameter, and negative (p < .05), correlated to sperm concentration. In conclusion, the age of quail markedly affected the testicular histological structure, libido, testosterone level and semen characteristics.