Semen characteristics of the guinea fowl Numida meleagris meleagris

Nwakalor, L. N.; Okeke, G. C.; Njoku, DC

doi:10.1016/s0093-691x(88)80003-7

Cited by 12 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In birds, sexual behaviour and semen quality are parameters limiting male reproductive efficiency, as they can have a profound effect on fertility (Sexton, 1983;Saeid and Al-Soudi, 1975;Cheng et al, 2002;Nwakalor et al, 1988). Seasonal changes in sperm numbers, motility, viability and morphology have been reported in several farmed bird species (Shikabrown chicken: Obidi et al, 2008;duck: Penfold et al, 2000;emu: Malecki et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting ejaculate quality and libido in male ostriches: Effect of season and age

Bonato

Malecki

Rybnik-Trzaskowska

et al. 2014

Animal Reproduction Science

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting ejaculate quality and libido in male ostriches: Effect of season and age

Bonato

Malecki

Rybnik-Trzaskowska

et al. 2014

Animal Reproduction Science

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“…Most tail defects involved bending or coiling in all regions of the tail (including the endpiece) although this phenomenon was particularly obvious in the principal piece where it accounted for 52% of total defects. Tail bending has not been described in the emu (Du Plessis and Soley, 2011a) although it has been reported in a number of birds (Ferdinand, 1992;Nwakalor et al, 1988;Omeje and Marire, 1990;Penfold et al, 2000;Sontakke et al, 2004;Umapathy et al, 2005) with a variable incidence. Why tail bending should be so prevalent in the ostrich and relatively scarce in the emu, another commercially exploited ratite, remains enigmatic but may be related to the greater incidence of retained cytoplasmic droplets and residual cytoplasmic material associated with ostrich sperm (see below).…”

Section: Tail Defectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although macrocephalic heads also formed a large proportion of total head defects in the emu (18.3%), bent heads, acephalic sperm and round heads collectively contributed to the greater proportion of head defects prevalent in the emu compared to the ostrich. Macrocephalic sperm are commonly found in small numbers in other avian species, such as the guinea fowl (Nwakalor et al, 1988), turkey (Lindsay et al, 1999), pigeon (Klimowicz et al, 2005) and quail (Chelmońska et al, 2008). High numbers of macrocephalic sperm (5-40%) have been reported in the Houbara bustard without any apparent influence on fertility (Lindsay et al, 1999).…”

Section: Head Defectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A morphological classification of sperm defects in the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Plessis

Malecki

Bonato

et al. 2014

Animal Reproduction Science

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Commercial ostrich farming is constrained by the absence of a formal animal recording and evaluation scheme as well as by current farming practices. Artificial insemination may have an important role in overcoming these limitations, but requires a thorough knowledge of sperm morphology. Although the morphological characteristics of normal ostrich sperm have been documented, little information is available on the incidence and structural peculiarities of defective sperm in this species. Semen smears were prepared from the ejaculates of five ostriches (Struthio camelus), stained and evaluated. Defects were observed in 17% of sperm studied. Tail defects constituted the most common anomaly.Various forms of bending were the main tail defect, ranging from gentle to acute bends of the principal piece, Dag-like coiling at the head base, sharp reflexes of the midpiece as well as coiling of the endpiece. In contrast, head defects were comparatively low in frequency, with macrocephalic sperm being the defect most frequently observed in this region. Bent, microcephalic, acephalic and round sperm heads were also noted but were few in number. Cytoplasmic droplets occurred frequently in the fixed smears, either associated with the sperm or as free-lying droplets. A small percentage of sperm with multiple defects was recorded. The incidence of morphologically normal sperm in ostrich semen compared favorably with that reported in emu semen, another commercially farmed ratite. However, the range of defects differed appreciably between the two species. Sperm tail anomalies were the most frequent category in the ostrich, whereas head defects comprised the main grouping in the emu.

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“…Most classification systems on avian sperm defects fail to reflect multior biflagellate sperm [32][33][34][35][36]. However, this anomaly has been mentioned [37][38][39], briefly described and/or illustrated in some avian species such as the Houbara bustard [40], goose [41][42][43], duck [44], guinea fowl [45] and, more recently, in the emu [9]. With the exception of a detailed study on the ultrastructure of multiple sperm tails in the drake [44], the morphological features of this defect are poorly understood in birds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural peculiarities associated with multiflagellate sperm in the emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae

Plessis

Soley

2012

Theriogenology

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Multiflagellate sperm represent a rare defect in mammals and also in the emu where an incidence of only 1% multiflagellate sperm was recorded in semen samples from 15 birds. Biflagellate sperm were the most frequent form of the defect observed, but 3-to 5-tailed sperm were also noted. An association was apparent between multiple tails and macrocephalic sperm which accounted for 0.6% of multiflagellate sperm. Structural features of the defect were generally similar to those seen in mammals. The duplicated tails shared a single midpiece which housed supernumerary centriolar complexes, each surrounded by a mitochondrial sheath. A single row of mitochondria separated adjacent centriolar complexes. Elements of the connecting piece (segmented columns, capitellum) appeared normal. The nuclear base appeared flat, staggered or scalloped depending on the number 2 and depth of additional implantation fossae. Multiflagellate emu sperm of normal head dimensions displayed a widened nuclear base (in the form of an attenuated peripheral nuclear extension) to accommodate the attachment of the additional centriolar complexes. Defective mammalian sperm do not show this modification of the nuclear base as the inherently wider sperm head is able to accommodate the supernumerary centrioles. Although often spiraled around each other, the duplicated principal pieces of the tail were generally separated and free. However, in some cells the proximal parts were collectively bound within the plasmalemma. Multiflagellate sperm appear to have a dual origin with some defective cells originating from incomplete cytokinesis and others as a result of abnormal centriolar duplication.

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Semen characteristics of the guinea fowl Numida meleagris meleagris

Cited by 12 publications

References 2 publications

Predicting ejaculate quality and libido in male ostriches: Effect of season and age

Predicting ejaculate quality and libido in male ostriches: Effect of season and age

A morphological classification of sperm defects in the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Structural peculiarities associated with multiflagellate sperm in the emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae

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