The Annual Testicular Cycle of the Domestic Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.1997.tb00145.x
• Publication Date: 2007-06-29T02:26:35Z
• Authors: S. M. B. Baraldi ...; A. M. Orsi; T. L. Lamano Carv...; R. A. Lopes
• Keywords: Coturnix coturnix; Coturnix japonica; Coturnix

Summary A morphometric study was conducted on the testis of domestic quail Coturnix coturnix japonica to determine testicular kinetics. We investigated variability along year parameters such as seminiferous tubule diameter, germinal epithelium height and amount meiotic figures maturing spermatids in sperm tubular lumen. The results analysis showed occurrence an annual cycle defined by four distinct phases: a resting phase (at end summer), recrudescence (in fall), proliferative winter beginning spring), regression (spring summer). also observed that testes adult quails present elevated maximal spermatogenic activity fall‐winter (short‐day period) at spring, respectively, lower values spring summer (long‐day periods), with minimum summer.