Age-related variations in seminiferous tubule dimensions and germinal and Sertoli cell numbers in guinea-fowl raised under a 14L:10D photoperiod.

Abstract

Histological studies of testicular development in guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris), raised under a 14L:10D photoperiod from 1 to 70 weeks of age, revealed: rapid increases in the relative volume, diameter, and length of the seminiferous tubules from 8 to 20 weeks but no significant changes thereafter; the appearance at 12 weeks of both mature Sertoli cells and round spermatids, characteristic of puberty; and biphasic increases in the numbers of Sertoli and germinal cells. The numbers of Sertoli cells, Type I spermatocytes, and round spermatids increased rapidly between 8 and 20 weeks; thereafter the numbers of Sertoli cells and Type I spermatocytes increased slowly but significantly, whereas the number of round spermatids was static. This indicated that age-related changes in meiotic yields could occur in adult guinea-fowl maintained under a 14L:10D photoperiod.