J Vet Sci. 2007 Sep;8(3):219-222   
 

Sertoli cell proliferation during the post hatching period in domestic fowl

H. Hakan Bozkurt1,*, Abit Aktas1, M. Basak Ulkay1, Umay B. Firat2

 

1Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Avcilar 34320, Istanbul, Turkey
2Leather Technology Programe, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Istanbul University, Avcilar 34320, Istanbul, Turkey

* bozkurt@istanbul.edu.tr

 

There has been no study aimed at directly determining of the periods of Sertoli cell proliferation in birds even domestic fowl. The aims of this study were to observe the cessation of post-hatching mitotic proliferation of Sertoli cells in domestic fowl, and to determine the volume density of Sertoli and germ cells during this period. A total of 50 Leghorn chicks were used in this study. The testes sections of the animals were immunostained with BrdU to observe the proliferation of cells from one to 10 weeks of age. The volume density of the Sertoli and germ cells were determined using the standard point counting method. The volume density of the germ cell nuclei was initially less than that of the Sertoli cells but the volume density converged by week 6, and remained relatively constant until the commencement of meiosis. Clear labeling of Sertoli and germ cells was observed from week 1 to week 7. The only those cells still labeled after 8 weeks were germ cells, indicating that Sertoli cell proliferation had ceased. Therefore, it is recommended that any research into the testes of domestic fowl should consider the cessation of Sertoli cell proliferation by approximately 8 weeks.