Haematological studies in adolescent breeding cocks

The objective of the study was to point out several significant changes in haematological values of male poultry occurring during sexual maturation an d development of spermiogenesis using chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus L. ) as a model species. The investigations were carried out in a set of 50 cl inically normal breeding cockerels of the paternal line RIR-05 and covered the age span of 10 through 35 weeks. Blood samples collected at 5-week inte rvals from vena basilica were tested for total erythrocyte count (Er), pack ed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin content (Hb), mean corpuscular haemoglobi n concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin content (MCH), mean er ythrocytic volume (MCV), and total leukocyte (Le), basophil (Ba), eosinophi l (Eo), neutrophil (Ne), lymphocyte (Ly), and monocyte (Mo) counts. Changes in the erythrocytic component observed during the investigation period inc luded highly significant (P less than or equal to 0.01) increases in Er fro m 1.793 to 3,484 T (.) l(-1), PCV from 0.243 to 0.4351 (.) l(-1), and Hb fr om 69.94 to 136.57 g (.) l(-1) . No significant changes were demonstrated f or MCHC, MCH, and MCV in which mean values ranged from 26.17 to 31.531 (.) l(-1), from 36.39 to 44.20 pg, and from 125.61 to 157.86 fl, respectively. A reverse tendency was observed in the leukocytic component. Le decreased h ighly significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) from 20.270 to 12.788 G (.) l(-1). For this change, highly significant decreases in Pa from 0.138 t o 0.065 G (.) l(-1), Eo from 0.0-104 to 0.063 G (.) l(-1), and mostly Ly fr om 11.502 to 3.784 g (.) l(-1) (P less than or equal to 0.01) and Mo from 0 .104 to 0.063 G (.) l(-1) were responsible. Ne remained fairly constant var ying within a narrow range of 7.742 to 8.626 G (.) l(-1). The paper provide s new comprehensive information on haematological changes occurring during sexual maturation of male breeding chickens up to the onset of reproductive activity.