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The effects of methanolic extract of Dracaena arborea on mean testicular weight, mean cauda epididymal sperm reserve, and testicular morphology were evaluated. A total of sixty mature male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups. The first group (A) received distilled water while the other two groups (B and C) received orally the methanolic leaf extracts of Dracaena arborea in two doses (100 and 500 mg/kg, respectively) daily for 84 days. Following oral administration of the extract, mean testicular weight, mean cauda epididymal sperm reserve, and testicular morphology were determined on days 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84. The extract produced a significant and dose-dependent increase (P < 0.05) in the sperm number. There was also a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the mean testicular weights on days 70 and 84 of the extract administration. The testicular morphology remained unchanged while further testicular histology examination revealed increased spermatogenesis. It was concluded that the methanolic leaf extract of D. arborea has fertility enhancing properties.  

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Effect of season on structural composition of drake testes and daily spermatozoa production as determined by quantitative testicular histology Summary Seasonal effects on the structural features of drake testes and daily spermatozoa production were investigated by a light microscopy technique, as well as morphometric and quantitative histological procedures. The present study is aimed at understanding the effects of different seasons on the reproductive potential of drakes. The results showed that the volume of the testes occupied by seminiferous tubules was similar (P > 0.05) in all the seasons studied. However, the relative percentage of the primary spermatocytes, spermatids, spermatozoa, epithelial height, lumen diameter, and Leydig cells were significantly higher (p < 0.05) during the early and late rainy seasons compared to the early and late dry seasons. The daily sperm production per testis in the early rainy season, late rainy season, early dry season, and late dry season were 0.86 × 10 9 ± 1.30, 0.84 × 10 9 ± 1.20, 0.54 × 10 9 ± 1.13 and 0.52 × 10 9 ± 1.17, respectively. The daily sperm productions per testis and per gram of testes were significantly higher (p < 0.05) during the early rainy season compared to the early and late dry seasons, respectively. All the micrographs examined, showed evidence of normal spermatogenesis throughout the year. The findings in the present study indicate that drakes in the tropical environment (south-eastern Nigeria) are capable of breeding throughout the year; however, sperm production efficiency is optimal during the early rainy season.

Morphological development of the lamina epithelialis mucosae (LEM) of the ileum of broiler chicken was evaluated using light and transmission electron microscopic techniques. Ileal sections were collected on embryonic days (ED) 14, 17 and 19, as well as post-hatch days (PD) 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 56. The result showed that the ileal LEM, which were poorly defined at embryonic days 14 and 17, consisted of enterocytes and some atypically shaped goblet cells. Apico-lateral tight junctions and irregularly shaped microvilli were associated with the enterocytes at ED 14 and 17.

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Indigenous breeds of chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) are widely distributed in the rural areas of the tropics and sub-tropics (Gueye, 2003). They constitute about 80% of the 120 million poultry types reared in Nigeria and are well known for their high tropical adaptability and resistance to diseases (Ajayi et al., 2011). Reports on some native ecotypes showed low egg production and growth potential (Adebambo, 2005; Adeleke et al., 2011). However, available literature does not highlight the reproductive potentials of Nigerian indigenous chicken. The resistance of these breed to harsh environmental conditions and their high hatchability traits (Horst, 1989;Mathur & Horst, 1990) can be harnessed for breed improvement; thus, adequate knowledge of the reproductive traits of the breed is required.There has been an upsurge of interest in the functional morphology of the genital tract of several avian species (Okpe et al., 2010;Yahaya et al., 2019). Gonadal development begins with genital ridge formation,