The relationship of the male's proctodeal gland size to sperm-egg interaction and the duration of fertility in Japanese quail.

Autor: Abuoghaba AA; Sohag University Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag, Egypt. Electronic address: abuoghaba@yahoo.com., Abdelfattah MG; Assiut University Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut, Egypt., Abdelhamid Mohamed Sayed M; Assiut University Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut, Egypt., Hosny M; Al-Azhar University Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut Branch, Assiut, Egypt.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Poultry science [Poult Sci] 2024 Aug; Vol. 103 (8), pp. 103809. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 03.
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103809
Abstrakt: In avian species, male fertility significantly impacts reproductive success. This study investigates the relationship between proctodeal gland size in male Japanese quails and sperm function, as well as female fertility duration. Six hundred adult Japanese quails were selected and housed in individual cages. Males (n = 300) were divided into 6 groups (50/group) based on the size of their proctodeal glands. Females (n = 300) were randomly assigned to corresponding groups. After acclimatization, sperm kinematics and the frequency and weight of foam discharge were evaluated. Males were paired with females for 24 h, and eggs were collected for 20 d postcopulation. Eggs were incubated to assess fertility duration. Fresh eggs (n = 20/group/d) were used to assess sperm penetration into the perivitelline membrane on the 2nd, 9th, and 16th d postinsemination. Plasma testosterone levels and the testes' relative weight were determined. The results indicated a significant increase (p < 0.0001) in sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, and nearly all sperm kinematic parameters such as VSL, VCL, VAP, LIN, WOB, and STR values as the size of the proctodeal gland increased. Quails copulated with males having a small and average proctodeal gland area (<400 mm 2 ) laid fertile eggs for a shorter period and had significantly fewer sperm penetration holes than those mated with males having a larger proctodeal gland area (>400 mm 2 ). The proctodeal gland size was positively correlated with testicular weight, plasma testosterone concentrations, and sperm kinetic variables. The results indicate that the size of the proctodeal gland in males can be used to predict sperm function and the duration of fertility in Japanese quail.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE