title: Developmental changes in testicular interstitium in the Najdi Ram Lambs.
abstract: This experiment was designed to study the relationship between growth rate and sexual development in Najdi ram lambs. Forty-five Najdi ram lambs were used in nine age groups (1-9th month age), keeping 5 lambs in each group. Results show that mean testis size and scrotal circumference increased at a constant rate, reaching a maximum value of 392.00 ± 2.00 g and 25.00 ± 0.32 cm respectively, at the age of 9 months. A similar trend of growth was observed for the mean body weight, reaching a maximum value of 40.2 ± 0.20 kg at the age of 9 months. There was a positive correlation between the increasing rates of body weight and size of the testis. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in testis size, scrotal circumference and body weight of lambs between all ages (1-9 months). The histological section of testis showed that a small number of mature sperms appeared in the eighth month of age and their numbers increased in the ninth month. In conclusion, the current findings indicated that puberty in Najdi rams occurs between the 8th and 9th months of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, College of Food Sciences and Agriculture, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Kawmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, College of Food Sciences and Agriculture, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mansour M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alfuraiji
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Faisal M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Abou-Tarboush
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, College of Food Sciences and Agriculture, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alodan
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Abul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Farah
keywords: Najdi Lambs; Sexual development; Spermatogenesis; Testicular interstitium