Sperm storage potential and daily sperm production of brown male Japanese quails for three different physiological age groups

Abstract

Thirty brown male Japanese quail birds consisting of 10 each of pubertal mature and adult quails were used to determine their sperm storage potential and daily sperm production at the three different physiological age groups. The birds were randomly allotted to treatment groups (pubertal mature and adult) in a completely randomised design. All animals were sacrificed and their reproductive organs excised and weighed. Testes and epididymis were homogenised separately in 0.154M NaCl. Sperm reserves in the homogenates were determined. Sperm production efficiency and daily sperm production were also determined from  testicular homogenates and epididymal sperm reserves from epididymal homogenate. The results showed that pubertal quail had significantly (P<0.05) higher paired epididymal weight (0.25±0.05g) than the mature (0.17±0.07g) and adult (0.23±0.05g). The pubertal quails had highest (P<0.05) daily sperm production per testis (259.29 x106) and had a significantly (P<0.05) higher sperm production efficiency (97.57x106) than matured (44.84x106) and adult groups (10.95x106). The mature group had a  significantly (P<0.05) higher right epididymal sperm reserve (88.46 x106) than the adult (28.62 x106) while the pubertal group had highest (P<0.05) paired epididymal sperm reserves (237.54 x106) and the age groups. The live weight of the birds was significantly (P<0.05) and positively correlated with the weight of the paired epididymis (r = 0.52) and with the paired testicular weight (r = 0.60; P<0.01). Daily sperm production per testis and right testicular sperm reserve per testis were observed to be significant and positively correlated (r=0.91 P<0.01). This study revealed that the brown male Japanese quail has its peak reproduction potential at puberty.

Keywords: Quail sperm storage, sperm production