Abstract
THE tranquillizer reserpine has been used to control and prevent aortic rupture in turkeys, and because of the suggested effects of this alkaloid on fertility1–3 it was not surprising that a differential effect on reproductive efficiency with respect to sex was reported in mature turkeys4. Our more extensive investigations have shown that the reduction in fertility of male birds was not caused by any visible change in morphology of the spermatozoa, or their motility or concentration/mm3 of semen5. We did observe, however, a significant reduction in respiration in vitro of semen from birds treated with reserpine. These data suggested that the spermiogenic process of the treated males was producing unknown quantities of spermatozoa suffering from some metabolic or biochemical defect.
Published Version
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