Abstract
The morphological observation of the reproductive organs and the mating test in male quail, treated with estrogen at an early embryonic stage, were carried out. The results were as follows: 1) Most of estrogen administered male quail showed poor swelling of the cloacal gland and disability of foam formation. Approximately 50 percent of birds had been treated with 0.1mg or 0.2mg of estradiol benzoate (E. B.) possessed deformed lips of the cloacal orifice. 2) The administration of exogenous estrogen diminished the size of the testes of the juvenile birds, but they recovered the normal size at their advanced age. 3) The disturbance of development of the ductus deferens was observed in some of the E. B. treated male, and approximately 50 percent in number of sexually matured male quail retained rudimentary oviduct in 0.1mg and 0.2mg groups. 4) In histological examination, the sperm was observed in most of the testes of sexually matured quail which had been treated with estrogen. The administration of estrogen at embryonic stage did not suppress the spermatogenesis of adult quail. 5) Only infertile eggs were obtained from normal females sired by males experienced high doses of estrogen (more than 0.1mg) during the embryonic lives, while a small number of fertile eggs were produced from normal females mated with males which had been treated with low doses of estrogen (0.01 and 0.02mg).
