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
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quails had highest (P<0.05) daily sperm production per testis (259.29 x10 ) and had
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a significantly (P<0.05) higher sperm production efficiency (97.57x10 ) than
6 6 matured (44.84x10 ) and adult groups (10.95x10 ). The mature group had a
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significantly (P<0.05) higher right epididymal sperm reserve (88.46 x10 ) than the
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adult (28.62 x10 ) while the pubertal group had highest (P<0.05) paired epididymal
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sperm reserves (237.54 x10 ) 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.