Abstract:
The morphometry and sperm reserves of the testis, epididymis and vas deferens of three groups (n=5/ group) of
sexually active adult local turkey toms fed isocaloric diet with varying levels (12 %, 16 %, 20 %) of protein were
studied for sixteen weeks. The
weights of the toms before treatment were between 3.5
–
4.5 kg, while at the end
of the experiment the mean ± SD live weight were 5.29 ± 0.65, 5.39 ± 0.45 and 5.63 ± 0.49 kg for groups 1, 2 and 3
respectively. The mean ± SD weights of the paired tunics, te
stis, epididymis and vas deferens, respectively, were
0.41 ± 0.11 g, 8.27 ± 2.37 g, 0.28 ± 0. 07 g and 0.36 ± 0.11 g (group 1): 0.43 ± 0.02 g, 8.50 ± 0.65 g, 0.33 ± 0.11 g
and 0.40 ± 0.11 g (group 2) and: 0.49 ± 0.16 g, 9.83 ± 3.08 g, 0.40 ± 0.13 g and 0
.50 ± 0.18 g, (group 3). The mean ±
SD lengths of the testes were: 3.72 ± 0.34 cm, 4.40 ± 0.47 cm and 4.48 ± 1.14 cm; the epididymis: 3.12 ± 0.56 cm,
3.17 ± 0.67cm and 3.48 ± 0.49 cm,
and the vas deferens: 17.27 ± 1.
10 cm, 17.33 ± 0.93 cm and 17.49 ± 1.10
cm, for
groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Mostly, the parameters of the left organs were greater than those of the right. The
mean ± SD weight of the testes positively correlated with that of the epididymis in all the groups (r = 0.72, 0.65 and
0.87 for gr
oups 1, 2 and 3 respectively) and the vas deferens (r = 0.54, 0.72 and 0.75 for groups 1, 2 and 3
respectively). The gonadal sperm reserves were 0.19 ± 0.00 x 10
9
cells/ml, 0.21 ± 0.00 x 10
9
cells/ml and 0.21 ±
0.00 x 10
9
cells/ml for groups 1, 2 and 3 res
pectively. The mean ± SD extra
gonadal sperm reserves were,
epididymis: 0.08 ± 0.00 x 10
9
cells/ml, 0.12 ± 0.01 x 10
9
cells/ml, 0.18 ± 0.00 x 10
9
cells/ml, and v
as deferens: 2.00 ±
0.13 x 10
9
cells/ml, 2.82 ± 0.50 x 10
9
cells/ml and 3.75 ± 0.60 x 10
9
cells/
ml for the three groups respectively. The
vas deferens had about 88 %, of the extragonadal sperm reserve in group 1 and 90 % in groups 2 and 3. Sperm
reserve was positively correlated to body weight and to the length of the testis. The results suggest, the
refore, that
morphometry and sperm reserves were better in turkey toms fed 16 % and 20 % than 12 % protein diets.
