Post-Natal Testicular Development in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract

THERE are reports on growth and development of the testes in young chickens (Breneman, 1941, 1944; Latimer, 1924; Bennett, 1947; Kumaran and Turner, 1949; Nestor and Jaap, 1963; and others). However, it is difficult to extrapolate this information to apply to the sexually precocious Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). A study of the testicular development in Coturnix was conducted under known environmental conditions to help interpret experiments involving photoperiodic response. In this study, Coturnix from U.C. Line 908 were reared from day of hatching under alternate 16 hours light and 8 hours darkness. Incandescent illumination was provided at an average intensity of 30 foot candles at bird level. The birds were brooded and reared in units 16×38×40 inches. (For details see Wilson et al., 1962.) Food and water were available at all times. Sample birds, selected at semi-weekly intervals from day of hatching to 43 days of…