Abstract
Simple SummaryOptimum hatchability and fertility in the goose industry is inevitable without emphasizing on reproductive health of ganders. Determining stages of spermatogenesis is a critical factor in evaluating the age of maturity and reproductive health of animals. The current study was designed to evaluate the steps of spermiogenesis and stages along with morphological changes in seminiferous epithelium in Yangzhou goose ganders. The results of the study revealed that inside seminiferous epithelium, initial steps of spermiogenesis are depicted by changes in acrosomic granules, whereas further stages are identified by nuclear morphological changes. Furthermore, ten steps of spermiogenesis, nine stages of seminiferous epithelium and four types of spermatogonia Ad, Ap1, Ap2 and B were identified. In Yangzhou goose ganders, recommended age of sexual maturity is 227 days of age.The past three decades revolutionized the goose industry in the world. China holds the world’s largest goose breeds stock by 95% of the global total. To optimize the goose industry and cope with ever increasing poultry meat and egg demands, there is a dire need to focus on reproduction, as most geese breeds exhibit poor reproductive performance. The present study was conducted with the aim to add a contribution in the goose industry and research by the histological visualizing step wise development of germ cells during spermatogenesis by microscopy and a histological technique. Yangzhou goose is a synthetic breed developed by using local goose germplasm resources of China. It is popular in the Chinese goose industry due to high productivity and adaptability. This research evaluated the steps of spermiogenesis and stages along with morphological changes in the seminiferous epithelium in Yangzhou goose ganders. For the assessment of various stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, testis sections were embedded in molten paraffin wax. The initial steps of spermiogenesis were depicted by changes in acrosomic granules, whereas further stages were identified by nuclear morphological changes. Ten steps of spermiogenesis and nine stages of seminiferous epithelium were identified. Four types of spermatogonia Ad, Ap1, Ap2 and B were recognized. The results depicted a clear variation in the diameter of seminiferous tubules (ST), epithelium height (EH), luminal tubular diameter (LD), number of seminiferous tubules per field and the Johnsen score. Microscopy indicated that the stages of seminiferous epithelium were similar to other birds and mammals and the ST diameter, EH, LD and Johnsen score are positively correlated while the number of seminiferous tubules per field is negatively correlated with the ST diameter, EH, LD and Johnsen score. Fertility in Yangzhou ganders can further be improved by visualizing the histological development of germs cells in testis tissues during spermatogenesis after onset of breeding season and maturity. Our results suggest that Yangzhou ganders reach complete sexual maturity at 227 days of age.
Highlights
The goose industry in China is especially prominent with an annual output accounting for approximately 95% of the world’s total production: with over 600 million geese slaughtered and more than 250 million tones of meat produced [1]
Nuclear could observe the morphological development of spermatogonia
The present study is the first to our knowledge that elaborates the steps of spermiogenesis and the classification of the seminiferous epithelium cycle, which measures histological parameters of seminiferous tubules development in matured and active testis in Yangzhou goose ganders
Summary
The goose industry in China is especially prominent with an annual output accounting for approximately 95% of the world’s total production: with over 600 million geese slaughtered and more than 250 million tones of meat produced [1]. To optimize the reproductive performance and for high economic returns, balance between two major key reproductive factors, i.e., hatchability and fertility, is inevitable. Breeder age, mating activity, nutrition, housing system, male to female ratio and breeding seasonality are common sub factors of hatchability and fertility. From an economic point of view in commercial poultry production, efficiency of the male breeding stock (cocks, ganders and toms) is measured in terms of the sperm quality factor, which includes the ejaculate volume, the sperm concentration and the percentage of live spermatozoa [3,4]. All the goose breeds used in China are seasonal breeders, which may differ in breeding seasonality depending on their native habitat or locations [1]. Testosterone concentrations in the breeding season (late spring) elevated 3.5 folds than the non breeding season (early spring) [7]
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