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Biomedical subjects

D Jacob

Publications and source records attributed to D Jacob.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Seasonal study of the adrenal gland of some Indian avian species.

Adrenal glands of eight Indian species of birds, namely Columba livia, Passer domesticus, Corvus splendens, Acridotheres tristis, Acridotheres ginginianus, Milvus migrans, Francolinus pondicerianus and Bubulcus ibis were examined during the sexually active and inactive phases of their annual reproductive cycles. Excepting A ginginianus and M. migrans, among members of either sex of the remaining six species the weight of the adrenal gland increases during the period of sexual activity. Histologically, the interrenal tissue of these birds could be divided into a peripheral subcapsular zone and a central zone. The cytochemical content of these two zones varies between sexual activity and inactivity. In sexually active birds of both sexes, interrenal cells of the central zone exhibit an increased concentration of alkaline phosphatase, glycogen, acid mucopolysaccharides and gross lipids, while in the subcapsular interrenal cells there is a prominent increase of ascorbic acid content. Cytochemical contents of chromaffin cells remain unchanged except acid phosphatase, which increases during the sexually active phase.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Effect of sex steroids on the male reproductive organs of the monitor lizard Varanus monitor (Linn.).

Exogenous sex steroids were administered to adult males of the monitor lizard Varanus during the retrogressive and inactive phases of their annual reproductive cycle. Androgen treatment renews spermatogenetic activity and causes an increase in the number of Leydig cells of the testis during the retrogressive phase; during the inactive phase the testicular response to androgen is only slight. In either reproductive phase oestradiol treatment has an inhibitory action on the germ tubules. Progesterone has no effect on the testis in the inactive phase. The vasa deferentia are well developed during the retrogressive phase and thus the effect of androgens is not appreciable. However, during the inactive phase testosterone highly stimulates the deferent ducts. In the inactive phase oestrogen and progesterone also seem to stimulate slightly the deferent tubules; progesterone increases the interstitial tissue of the deferent ducts. Renal sexual segments hypertrophy and become secretory by androgen treatment in either phase of the reproductive cycle, whereas oestrogen and progesterone have no effect. The hemipenes are also stimulated by androgen treatment.

Animals↗