Effects of cyproterone acetate on cloacal gland and testicular functions in Japanese quail

This investigation was carried out to study the effects of cyproterone acetate -antiandrogen on reproductive functions of male Japanese quail. Healthy adult Japanese quail (heavy body weight) of the same age group were injected 2 or 10 mg cyproterone acetate (CyA) in 0.2 ml olive oil per bird for a period of 15 days. Control group received the vehicle (0.2 ml/bird) alone. At the end of the experiment. high doses of CyA (10 mg/bird) caused complete regression of cloacal gland and a significant (P<0.05) reduction of testicular weight and testosterone level in the blood. Foam production was negligible under high doses of CyA at the 15th day of the study where as its production was reduced by 40% under the low doses(2 mg/bird) of treatment. CyA in both low/high dose reduced the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa but the effect of high doses was more drastic. Histological studies revealed a remarkable degeneration of spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubules of birds in the treatment groups. Recovery in all the above parameters from the deleterious effects of CyA after its withdrawal was very fast.