Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2007.701

Effect of rc Mutation on Semen Characteristics, Spermatogenic Tissues and Testosterone Profile in Blind Rhode Island Red Cockerels  

Arshami, J. (Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashad)
Cheng, K. (University of British Columbia)
Publication Information
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences / v.20, no.5, 2007 , pp. 701-705 More about this Journal
Abstract
Seven rc mutant and seven normal male birds (Rhode Island Red suie, RIR) were used in this study to determine the effects of rc mutation on semen characteristics, testosterone profile and spermatogenic tissues. All birds were randomly selected at week 12 of age and housed in individual cages and were fed and watered ad libitum. The birds were exposed to a 14L:10D light cycle during experiment. Semen were collected at weeks 22 to 23 from each bird twice a week and evaluated for semen volume (SV), sperm concentration (SC), total sperm count (TSC), percent of sperm motility (%SM), dead sperm (%DS), and sperm metabolic activity (SMA). To determine the testosterone concentration (TC) in plasma, blood was collected at weeks 12, 16 and 18. Testicular tissue were collected, processed and evaluated for semineferous tubule diameter (STD), round spermatid number (RSN), percent elongated sperm (%ES) and semineferous tubules length (STL). Body weight (BW), comb weight (CW) and testes weight (TW) were weighted at the end of experiment (week 23). The SV, TSC and %SM were significantly higher in normal birds but the %DS was higher in blind birds (p<0.05). The SC did not differ significantly between the two groups but its value was higher in normal birds. The sperm metabolic activity in the first h of collection did not differ significantly between the two groups but after 24 h, the level of SMA in normal group was significantly higher (p<0.05). The level of TC did not differ significantly between the two genotype groups but normal birds had higher TC in all collections except the last one. The STD, RSN, %ES and STL in normal birds were higher when compared to blind birds but the differences were insignificant except for ES percent. The BW, CW and TW between the two groups did not differ significantly but the weights were higher in normal group compared to blind birds. Statistical analysis of semen characteristics, testosterone profile and histological factors were indicated detrimental effects of rc mutation in prepubertal RIR blind male birds due to lack of light.
Keywords
rc Mutation; Semen Characteristics; Spermatogenic Tissues; Testosterone Hormone; Blind Cockerel;
Citations & Related Records

Times Cited By Web Of Science : 1  (Related Records In Web of Science)
Times Cited By SCOPUS : 1
연도 인용수 순위
1 Ashizawa, K. and G. H. Wishart. 1987. Resolution of the sperm motility stimulating principle of fowl seminal plasma into $Ca^{+}^{+}$ and an unidentified low molecular weight factor. J. Reprod. Fertil. 81:495-499   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Cerruti-Sola, S., M. Castagnaro and K. M. Cheng. 1997. Histological changes caused by the rc mutation in chickens. J. Comp. Path. 116:329-338.   DOI   ScienceOn
3 Cheng, K. M. and S. F. Pang. 1989. The rc gene, photoreceptors, and melatonin in the chicken. Advanced in pineal research: R. J. Reiter and S.F. Pang Eds., John Libbey and Co Ltd. pp. 83-86.
4 Lake, P. E. and I. A. Furr. 1971. The endocrine testis in reproduction. In: Physiology and Biochemistry of the Domestic Fowl. Vol. 3. (Ed. D. J. Bell and B. M. Freeman) Academic Press, New York Chapter 62
5 Lehniger, A. L., D. L. Nelson and M. M. Cox. 1993. Principles of Biochemistry (2nd ed). Worth Publishers, New York.
6 Mather, F. B. and W. O. Wilson. 1964. Post-natal testicular development in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica). J. Poult. Sci. 43:860-864.   DOI
7 Romanov, M. N. 2001. Genetics of broodiness in poultry - a review. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 14:1647-1654.   DOI
8 SAS. 1988. SAS Procedure Guid, Release 6.03 ed. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
9 Semple-Rowland, S. L., W. A. Gorczyca, J. Buczylko, B. S. Helekar, C. C. Ruiz, I. Subbaraya, K. Palczewski and W. Baehr. 1996. Expression of CGAP1 and CGAP2 in the retinal degeneration (rc) mutant chicken retina. FEBS Letters. 385:47-52.   DOI   ScienceOn
10 Sexton, T. J. 1977. A new Poultry Extender: 1. Effect of extension on the fertility of chicken semen. J. Poult. Sci. 56:1443-1446.   DOI   ScienceOn
11 Wilcox, F. H. 1959. Effect of the addition of carbohydrates after storage on the motility and fertilizing ability of chicken sperm. J. Poult. Sci. 38:1162-1168.   DOI
12 Garier, D. H. and J. Attal. 1970. Variations de la testosterone du plasma testicular et des cellules interstitiels chez le canard pekin au cours du cycle annuel. Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. (Paris). 270:2472-2486.
13 Temple, S. A. 1974. Plasma testosterone titers during the annual reproductive cycle of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 22:470-282.   DOI   ScienceOn
14 Arshami, J. and J. L. Ruttle. 1998. Effects of diets containing gossypol on spermatogenic tissues of young bulls. Theriogenol. 30:507-516.
15 Becker, W. M. and D. W. Deamer. 1991. The world of the cell (2nd. Ed) in: The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Co., Inc. California, USA.
16 Kerlan, J. T. and R. B. Jaffe. 1974. Plasma testosterone levels during the testiculer cycle of the red-winged blackird (Agelaius phoeniceus). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 22:428-432.   DOI   ScienceOn
17 Chaudhuri, D. and G. J. Wishart. 1988. Predicting the fertilizing ability of avian semen: Development of an objective colorimetric method for assessing the metabolic activity of fowl spermatozoa. J. Br. Poult. Sci. 29:837-845.   DOI   ScienceOn
18 Marini, P. J. and B. L. Goodman. 1969. Semen characteristics as influenced by selection of divergent growth rate in chickens. J. Poult. Sci. 48:85-89.
19 Cheng, K. M., R. N. Shoffner, K. N. Gelatt, G. G. Gum, J. S. Otis and J. J. Bitgood. 1980. An autosomal recessive blind mutant in the chicken. J. Poult. Sci. 9:2179-2128.
20 Poccia, D. 1994. Molecular Biology Intelligence Unit: Molecular Aspects of Spermatogenesis. R. G. Landes Co. Austin pp. 8-15.
21 Pelech, S. L., E. Power and D. E. Vance. 1983. Activities of the phosphatidylcholine biosynthetic enzymes in rat liver during development. Can. J. Biotch. Cell Biol. 61:1147-1152.   DOI
22 Cheng, K. M., R. N. Shoffner, K. N. Gelatt and G. G. Gum. 1978. An induced retinal mutation (rc) in the chicken. J. Poult. Sci. 57:1127-1132.
23 Froman, D. P. and D. J. McLean. 1996. Objective measurement of sperm motility based upon penetration of Accudenz 1. J. Poult. Sci. 75:776-784.   DOI   ScienceOn
24 Brillard, J. P. and G. R. McDaniels. 1986. Influence of spermatozoa numbers and insemination frequency on fertility in dwarf broiler breeder hens. J. Poult. Sci. 65:2330-2334.   DOI   ScienceOn
25 Schanbacher, B. D., W. R. Gomes and N. L. Van Demark. 1974. Diurnal rhythm in serum testosterone levels and thymidine uptake by testes in the domestic fowl. J. Anim. Sci. 38:1245-1258.   DOI
26 Mortimer, D. 1994. Practical Laboratory Andrology. Oxford University press. New York.
27 Burrows, W. H. and J. P. Quinn. 1937. The collection of spermatozoa from the domestic fowl and turkey. J. Poult. Sci. 16:19-24.   DOI
28 Rabkin, S. W. and K. M. Cheng. 1992. A genetic abnormality of cardiac myocytes from the blind mutant (rc) chick heart: abnormalities of cardiac structure and choline transport. Basic Res. Cardiol. 87:610-617.   DOI   ScienceOn
29 Steel, R. G. D. and J. H. Torrie. 1986. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. International Student Ed., McGraw Hill, Tokyo.
30 Kumoran, J. D. S. and C. W. Turner. 1949. The normal development of the testes in the White Plymouth Rock. J. Poult. Sci. 28:511-520.   DOI
31 Blazak, W. F. and N. S. Fechheimer. 1981. Testicular sperm reserves in cockerels bearing Z-autosome translocations. J. Poult. Sci. 60:2001-2005.   DOI   ScienceOn
32 Ruckebusch, Y., L. Phaneuf and R. Dunlop. 1991. Physiology of small and large animals. B. C. Decker Inc. Philadelphia pp. 254-255.