title: Roles of age, body weight and composition in the initiation of sexual maturation of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
abstract: 1. The roles of chronological age, body weight and body composition in the initiation of sexual maturation of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were investigated by imposing an inhibitory photoperiod (IP), and by the intramuscular injection of turkey growth hormone (GH) or antisera to turkey growth hormone (AGH). 2. Absence of sexual maturity in the IP treatment was accompanied by reduced testis and ovary-oviduct weights, and an increased breast muscle weight expressed as a proportion of body weight. 3. Antisera to turkey growth hormone (AGH) did not completely inhibit the metabolic activities of endogenous GH. 4. The roles of chronological age, body weight and body composition in the initiation of sexual maturity were inseparable.
authors.affiliation: Poultry Science Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Oruwari
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brody
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D003370:Coturnix / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011784:Quail / Q000502:physiology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation