The Normal Development of the Testes in the White Plymouth Rock

Abstract

THE normal growth and development of the various component parts of the testes and the rate of maturation of spermatozoa of fowls has received relatively little study. A few reports concerning the growth of the testes in relation to body weight have been made. Latimer (1924) plotted the growth in weight of the testes against gross body weight of a group of White Leghorns. He noted a period of slow growth in testes up to 400 gm. body weight (or about 50 days), an increase in growth from 400 to 800 gm. (50–80), and a terminal plateau of about 20 gm. following sexual maturity at about 1800 to 2000 gm. body weight. Buckner, Insko, and Martin (1933) reported that a group of White Leghorn cockerels, 14 weeks of age with an average body weight of 1152 gm. had testes weighing 2.8 gm. Hoskins and Koch (1939) stated that 5 . . .