Short social interactions in male Japanese quail fail to influence temporal dynamics of testicular and adrenocortical activities irrespective of photoperiodic reproductive status

DOMINCHIN MF; PALME R; MARIN RH; BUSSO JM

Journal of ornithology

Springer

Año: 2017

2193-7192

This study evaluates whether short daily male-conspecific visits influence the dynamics of endocrine testicular and adrenal photo-responsiveness. A group of male Japanese quail was exposed to short photoperiod and another group to long photoperiod. The quail exposed to short photoperiod were classified as responsive (SD-R) or non-responsive (SD-NR), depending on whether or not they lost their reproductive condition after 5 weeks of short days (SD). Individuals kept on long photoperiod were used as controls (LD). After photoperiodic classification and during four consecutive days, individually-caged SD-R, SD-NR and LD resident male quail received 5-min visits from photo-stimulated (and therefore sexually active) male quail (social treatment). Cloacal gland volume (CGV) ,and androgen and corticosterone metabolites (AM and CM, respectively) in droppings were measured bi-weekly and evaluated by repeated measures ANOVA over a 6-week period. Immediately after photoperiodic classification and before social treatment, CGV, AM and CM values showed a SD-R