Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Chronic Reserpine on Metabolism and Chemical Constituents of Turkey Testis

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

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, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gaunt, R., Renzi, A. A., Antanchak, N., Miller, G. J., and Gilman, M., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 59, 22 (1954).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Khazan, N. Sulman, F. G., and Winnek, H. Z., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 105, 201 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Chatterjee, A., Endocrinology, 77, 395 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jones, J. M., Gilbreath, J. C., and Maloney, M. A., Poultry Sci., 45, 713 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Maloney, M. A., Gilbreath, J. C., Tierce, J. F., and Ewing, L. L., J. Poultry Sci. (in the press).

  6. Tepperman, J., and Tepperman, H. M., Endocrinology, 41, 187 (1947).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Paul, H. E., Paul, M. F., and Kopko, F., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. N. Y., 79, 555

  8. Ewing, L. L., and VanDemark, N. L., J. Reprod. Fertil., 6, 9 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ewing, L. L., Noble, D. J., and Ebner, K. E., Canad. J. Physiol. Pharmacol., 42, 527 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ewing, L. L., Green, P. M., and Stebler, A. M., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med., 118, 911 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ewing, L. L., Amer. J. Physiol. (in the press).

  12. Ewing, L. L., Means, A. R., Beames, jun., C. G., and Montgomery, R. D., J. Reprod. Fertil., 12, 295 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Baldwin, D. M., and Ewing, L. L., Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (in the press).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oklahoma State University,

    L. L. EWING, R. D. MONTGOMERY, D. M. BALDWIN & R. F. CLEGG

  2. Department of Poultry Science, Oklahoma State University,

    J. F. TIERCE, M. A. MALONEY & J. C. GILBREATH

Authors
  1. L. L. EWING
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. D. MONTGOMERY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. M. BALDWIN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. F. CLEGG
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. F. TIERCE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. A. MALONEY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J. C. GILBREATH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2141267a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

Search

Navigation