Abstract
THE tranquillizer reserpine has been used to control and prevent aortic rupture in turkeys, and because of the suggested effects of this alkaloid on fertility1–3 it was not surprising that a differential effect on reproductive efficiency with respect to sex was reported in mature turkeys4. Our more extensive investigations have shown that the reduction in fertility of male birds was not caused by any visible change in morphology of the spermatozoa, or their motility or concentration/mm3 of semen5. We did observe, however, a significant reduction in respiration in vitro of semen from birds treated with reserpine. These data suggested that the spermiogenic process of the treated males was producing unknown quantities of spermatozoa suffering from some metabolic or biochemical defect.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gaunt, R., Renzi, A. A., Antanchak, N., Miller, G. J., and Gilman, M., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 59, 22 (1954).
Khazan, N. Sulman, F. G., and Winnek, H. Z., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 105, 201 (1960).
Chatterjee, A., Endocrinology, 77, 395 (1965).
Jones, J. M., Gilbreath, J. C., and Maloney, M. A., Poultry Sci., 45, 713 (1966).
Maloney, M. A., Gilbreath, J. C., Tierce, J. F., and Ewing, L. L., J. Poultry Sci. (in the press).
Tepperman, J., and Tepperman, H. M., Endocrinology, 41, 187 (1947).
Paul, H. E., Paul, M. F., and Kopko, F., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. N. Y., 79, 555
Ewing, L. L., and VanDemark, N. L., J. Reprod. Fertil., 6, 9 (1963).
Ewing, L. L., Noble, D. J., and Ebner, K. E., Canad. J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 42, 527 (1964).
Ewing, L. L., Green, P. M., and Stebler, A. M., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 118, 911 (1965).
Ewing, L. L., Amer. J. Physiol. (in the press).
Ewing, L. L., Means, A. R., Beames, jun., C. G., and Montgomery, R. D., J. Reprod. Fertil., 12, 295 (1966).
Baldwin, D. M., and Ewing, L. L., Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
EWING, L., MONTGOMERY, R., BALDWIN, D. et al. Effect of Chronic Reserpine on Metabolism and Chemical Constituents of Turkey Testis. Nature 214, 1267–1268 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2141267a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2141267a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
