Studies on testes development and spermatogenesis in the male duck

This study was conducted in order to observe the changes in cellular association of seminiferous tubules from 4 to 22 weeks of age and to obtain the cycle and relative duration of seminiferous epithelia from 24 weeks of age in male ducks. Fifety-five male ducks were used in the experiment and divided into 11 groups, consisting of 5 male ducks each, with 2 weeks intervals from 4 to 24 weeks of age. The body and tests weight showed most rapid increase during 4 to 6 weeks and 18 to 22 weeks of age, respectively. The seminiferous tubules were abruptly enlarged in diameter of tubules during 18 to 22 weeks of age. Gonocytes were seen from 4 to 6 weeks of age, however they were not observed as from 8 weeks of age. Both type Ap spermatogonia and type Ad spermatogonia occurred from 8 to 12 weeks of age, while spermatocytes and spermatids were beginning to appear at 16 weeks and 18 weeks of age, respectively. Spermatozoa were first observed at 20 weeks of age. Full spermatogenic activity was completed at the age of 20 weeks. Average paired weight of the testes in male ducks was 78g at 24 weeks of age and its ratio spermatogenic activity was completed at the age of 20 weeks. Average diameter of seminiferous epithelium at 22 weeks of age was 232 micro m, and average numbers of Sertoli cell, spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatids and spermatozoa in the cross section of seminiferous epithelium were 15.30, 59.08, 41.78, 71.11 and 165.30, respectively. Spermatogonia and spermatids were classified into 2 and 4 types, respectively. The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium could be divided into 5 stages at 24 weeks of age. The relative frequencies of stages from I to V were 13.5 %, 25.0 %, 22.3 %, 20.6 % and 18.7 %, respectively. Thus, establishment of spermatogenesis in male ducks were beginning to appear at 20 weeks of age