In the previous paper, it was reported that cock spermatozoa were reversibly inactivated at body temperature, and that the time required for the inactivation was influenced by several factors. In the present paper, O₂ consumption rate and life-Span of cock spermatozoa were determined in relation to the reversible inactivation.
O₂ consumption rates of cock spermatozoa Odiluted with blood plasma, ram spermatozoa and cock erythrocytes were higher at 40°C than 30°C. On the contrary, O₂ consurnption rate of cock spermatozoa diluted with KRP was lower at 40°C than 30°C. From this, it was considered that the spermatozoa diluted with KRP were inactivated at 40°C in spite of the continuous shaking of sperm suspension in the vessel of Warburg's manometer, In the cock sper matozoa washed with KRP, O₂ consumptia n rates at 40 and 30°C were similar to each other. The reason for this may be that the time required for inactivation of spermatozoa at 40°C was shorter than that at 30°C.
The life-span of spermatozoa incubated at 20°C was longer than that incubated at higher temperatures. However, life-span of spermatozoa incubated at 45, 40 and 30°C were similar and no significant difference was observed among them. Therefore, author could not find the prolongation of life-span of spermatozoa by saving energy from reversible inactivation.

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There appeared 1- to 2-month-old pullets having abnormally large comb which was comparable to that of the cockerels at corresponding ages in White Leghorns. Comb size expressed as the projected area was significantly greater in a large comb gronp than a normal comb group from 42 to 84 days of age, but smaller after 112 days of age Plasma LH levels of pullets having large comb were lower than the pullets having normal size comb until 140 days of age, but higher at 154 days of age. Plasma LH was always higher in cockerels than pullets. Plasma testosterone levels were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the pullets having large comb than in the pullets having normal size comb from 42 to 82 days of age, but lower after 112 days of age. In the cockerels plasma testosterone levels increased rapidly between 56 and 78 days of age and remained at high levels until 140 days of age, temporally dropped at 154 days of age and increased again thereafter. Plasma estradiol levels were similar in pullets having large comb and those having normal size comb except 42 days of age when the value in the former was higher than the latter. The levels of cockerels were always low during the experimental period (42-196 days of age). Plasma progesterone levels were higher in the pullets having large comb than in the pullets having normal size comb from 42 to 98 days of age, but were lower after 112 days of age. The value in the cockerels was similar to the pullets until 140 days of age, and decreased thereafter while the level increased in the pullets. Pullets having large comb started egg production seuen days later (166 days of age) than those having normal size comb, but no statistically significant difference was observed in the egg production rate between the two groups of pullets.
Abnormally larger combs of pullets observed in a White Leghorn gronp at 1-2 months of age are induced by a higher amount of testosterone secreted from ovary of the group than that of the other group of the same age.

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Two lines of chickens selected for GVHR competences were compared for the immune response to SRBC. The H line, which had higher GVHR competence, showed higher antibody production to SRBC in primary and secondary responses than did the L line, which had lower GVHR competence. The line differences of the immune response were found to be due mainly to IgG antibody production. However, the line differences of the IgM titers and the number of IgM antibody forming cells were not significant statistically.
Possible associations of the B genotypes and the antibody titers to SRBC were not revealed. By comparison of the number of IgM antibody forming cells a tendency of B⁹/B⁹ >B⁹/B¹¹>B¹¹/B¹¹ was showed, though the differences were not significant. Since the tendency was differed from that of immune response to other antigens, such as GRBC, DNP, or BSA, the antigen-specific genetic control associated with the MHC-B locus was suggested.
In the analysis of SRBC-rosette forming cell percentage in peripheral lymphocytes the L line showed significantly higher percentage than did the H line. However, the differences among the B genotypes were not significicant.

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The relative position of the germinal disc on the surface of F₁ to F₅ ovarian follicles were investigated in regularly laying Japanese quail.
At the onset of rapid follicular growth, the germinal disc was found at any positions other than the juxtra-stigma region. The distance between the stalk and the germinal disc remained fairly constant during maturation of follicles. Consequently, in the follicles larger than the F₃ stage, the germinal disc migrated away from the stigma. This change in the position of the germinal disc would protect germ cells from expecting physical and chemical damages at the rupture of the follicle.

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A line of new plumage color mutation of the Japanese quail has been established in our laboratory. This mutation is inherited by a simple autosomal gene (rs) and is recessive to the wild type. Female homozygotes (rs/rs) showed dysfunction in albumen secretion, egg shell formation, and consequently egg laying, whereas male homozygotes showed no reproductive failure.
Analysis of the oviducal secreta of rs/rs female by crossed-immunoelectrophoresius sing a polyspecific anti-albumen serum showed that the amount of albumen secreted into the oviduct magnum of the mutant is negligibly small.
The tissue samples of the oviduct magnum taken from the ovariectomized (OVX) mutant quail treated with estradiol benzoate (EB, 0.1mg/day for 5 days) were homogenized and their ovalbumin content was estimated by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. In these samples the amount of ovalbumin was comparable to that found in the oviduct of the widetype quail, which indicates that the oviduct magnum of the mutant can respond to EB normally as far as ovalbumin synthesis is concerned.
Avidin, a progesterone (P) dependent protein, was detected at the oviduct magnum of the adult mutant as well as laying wild-type females by histochemical staining using biotinyl-horseradish peroxidase method. Although the synthesis of avidin was not induced by EB treatment alone in oviduct magnum of the OVX mutant nor in that of the OVX wild-type quail, the birds primed by EB then injected with P (0.1mg) initiated the synthesis of avidin without regard to their phenotypes. These results indicate that the failure in albumen deposition peculiar to rs/rs quail is attributed to their inability for releasing but not for the synthesis of the albumen.

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[in Japanese]

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