The Effect of Reserpine on the Metabolism of Turkey Semen

Abstract

SEVERAL workers have reported that reserpine produced a significant reduction in fertility when administered to pigeons, pheasants and domestic turkeys. Khazan et al. (1960) reported that a severe atrophy of the testes resulted when reserpine was fed to male pigeons. Hewitt and Reynolds (1957) found that reserpine reduced egg production, fertility and hatchability in pheasant breeders. Studies reported by Rudolph et al. (1962) and Casey et al. (1963) indicated that reserpine administered in the feed resulted in a significant reduction in the fertility of breeder turkeys.A differential effect of reserpine, with respect to sex, in mature turkeys on fertility was reported by Jones et al. (1966). They reported that the reduction in fertility was greater in the female than in the male, although a reduction was observed in both sexes.Although reports have been published on the general effects of reserpine on fertility in birds, no work has been …