DefinePK

Abstract

Twenty sexually matured (24 weeks old) healthy Harco cocks were used to determine the effect of gonadotrophin (Diclair®) on kidney function, body conformation and sperm reserves. The cocks were divided into 4 treatment groups of 5 cocks per group, identified as T1 (control) administered with 1ml physiological saline; T2, administered with 6.75i.u Diclair®; T3, administered with 13.50i.u Diclair® and T4, administered with 20.25i.u Diclair®, with one cock per rplicate in a completely Randomized Design (CRD). The injections were divided into three doses each and administered intramuscularly in the thigh for three consecutive days. Blood was collected one week after Diclair® administration from 5 cocks in each treatment group by wing vein puncture of the cocks using needle and syringe for kidney function test. Four weeks after Diclair® injections, body size measurement was done using a measuring tape. The five cocks that were bled in each treatment group were slaughtered and the testicles collected and testiclular and epididymal sperm reserves were estimated following the homogenized count using a haemocytometer and a microscope. The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups in sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate and creatinine values. The results further showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups in final body weight, body girth, body width, body length, shank length, drumstick length, keel length, and wing length. Similarly the result showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups in testis and epididymal sperm reserves. The result of this study suggest that Diclair® treatment enhanced sperm production and reserves and was not detrimental to kidney function and body conformation of the cocks.