Structure of the right testis of sexually mature genetically female fowl experimentally masculinized during embryonic life and submitted to a posthatching left castration.
Posthatching left castration of genetically female fowl, Gallus domesticus, preceded, during embryonic life, by a masculinizing treatment associating a testis graft and an antiestrogen resulted in the development of the right rudimentary gonad into a testis. Examined after the sexual maturity, the right testis of most treated animals was entirely composed of seminiferous tubules possessing a spermatogenic cell complement. Spermiogenesis proceeded to the stage of spermatozoon in 4 out of 17 treated animals and was almost as well organized as in a normal cock testis in 3 of them. Testis development appeared then as clearly improved, compared to that described previously in only left-castrated, with or without treatment with an antiestrogen, or only sex-reversed female fowl. The possible mechanism of this improvement is discussed.
Laboratoire d'Histologie et Embryologie, UER Médicale 1, Université Bordeaux II, Bordeaux, France.
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R
Maraud
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Vergnaud
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M
Rashedi
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure