The physiological basis of seasonal breeding in the guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) still remains unknown, despite the socioeconomic importance of the

Despite the potentials and contributions of guinea fowls to economic and social life in Ghana, accurate sex identification in these birds is still a

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is a key enzyme catalyzing the rate-limiting step in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) production. There may be a mechanism by which SCD is involved in lipid metabolism, which is assumed to be essential for goose follicular development. For this reason, a cellular model of SCD function in goose granulosa cells (GCs) via SCD overexpression and knockdown was used to determine the role of SCD in GC proliferation using flow cytometry. We found that SCD overexpression induced and SCD knockdown inhibited GCs proliferation. Furthermore, ELISA analysis showed that SCD overexpression increased the total cholesterol (TC), progesterone, and estrogen levels in GCs, while SCD knockdown decreased TC, progesterone, and estrogen levels (p < 0.05). Combining these results with those of related multi-omics reports, we proposed a mechanism of SCD regulating the key lipids and differentially expressed gene (DEGs) in glycerophospholipid and glycerolipid metabolism, which participate in steroidogenesis mediated by the lipid droplet deposition in goose GCs. These results add further insights into understanding the lipid metabolism mechanism of goose GCs.

The study describes the steps of spermiogenesis and stages of seminiferous epithelial cycle in breeding guinea cocks. Sections embedded in epoxy resin were employed for the determination of the stages of seminiferous epithelial cycle in the guinea fowl. Acrosomic granules aided in identifying the initial steps of spermiogenesis, whereas nuclear morphological changes facilitated the identification of subsequent stages. Eleven steps of spermiogenesis and nine stages of seminiferous epithelium were recognized in the guinea fowl testis. Three spermatogonial types, namely, spermatogonial A, B and intermediate were identified in the guinea fowl seminiferous epithelium. Spermatogonial A and preleptotene spermatocytes had the largest (P < 0.05) nuclei diameters in the seminiferous epithelium, whereas round spermatids had the least. Within germ cells, no significant (P > 0.05) differences were found among birds in spermatogonial A and intermediate spermatogonial nuclei diameters. Spermatogonial B, preleptotene primary spermatocyte, type I spermatocyte (primary spermatocyte in prophase I), and round spermatid nuclei diameters were, however, bigger (P < 0.05) in some birds than others. The classification of the seminiferous epithelial cycle in the guinea fowl was similar to that described in other birds and mammals.

The study documented gross anatomical and histological differences in the reproductive organs of 28 breeding and non-breeding female guinea fowls. Peripheral progesterone and 17β-oestradiol concent...