title: Instance of melanosis in the gonads of male Indian Robin, Saxicoloides fulicata (Lin).
abstract: In excess of 300 Indian Robin (S. fulicata Lin.) males were examined during different phases of the reproductive cycle (180 during the breeding phase and 140 during the remaining phases) for the presence of melanin pigment in the testes. Melanosis (melanin localization) was evident during the regression (31%), preparatory (40%), and progressive (31%) phases in one or both testes of a specimen but was never observed in the breeding phase. Further, melanin was localized only in the intertubular area and was never found in the tubular elements or the tunic. Histomorphological studies of pigmented and nonpigmented testes and of the adrenals taken from these specimens suggest that spermatogenesis in the nonpigmented testes is slightly more advanced than in the pigmented testes and that the melanosis might have developed due to a malfunction of the adrenals.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001717:Birds; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010507:Periodicity; D012621:Seasons; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology