Abstract
The age of maturity and seasonality are vital characteristics in the production of seasonal breeders like Yangzhou ganders. Ancestors of the current geese breeds were wild geese that adapted their breeding season, according to the season having plenty of food and suitable weather conditions to reproduce and raise their chicks to combat harsh environmental conditions. The present study aimed to elucidate histological changes in testicular histoarchitecture of Yangzhou goose ganders. Testis samples were collected from Yangzhou ganders during premature, transition and mature states. Testicular regression was accessed by observing changes in the number of spermatocytes, spermatogonia, elongated spermatids, round spermatids, width of seminiferous tubules, epithelial height, luminal tubular diameter and Johnsen’s score. The results depicted a positive correlation between age and number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids, and epithelial height. Thus, testicular histoarchitecture works usually on the balance between Sertoli and other germ cells. Further, our results conclude that breeding seasonality and age of sexual maturity also affect spermatogenesis efficiency in Yangzhou ganders.