POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT AND ATTAINMENT OF SEXUAL MATURITY IN MALE INDIAN GERBIL, TATERA INDICA HARDWICKE : MORPHOMETRIC, BIOCHEMICAL, SPERMATIC AND HISTOLOGICAL EVALUATION

摘要

The Indian gerbil, Tatera indica is an economically important rodent species causing huge losses to agricultural produce in addition to acting as potential reservoir for microbial organisms. During present study male pups of T. indica-oi known ages were observed for postnatal development and attainment of sexual maturity. Complete ear unfolding and eye opening was observed by days 17 and 18, respectively. Tassel of hair at the tip of tail was clearly visible from day 20 onwards. A significant increase was observed in body weight and length of different body parts of all the pups with increasing age. Autopsy of pups of 7 different age groups (30,45,60,75,90,105 and 120 days old) revealed a significant increase in weight of reproductive organs (testisand epididymis) and accessory sex glands (seminal vesicles and prostate gland), plasma level of testosterone and testicular level of 17P-Hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase with increasing age. The descending of testes to scrotum, preputial separation and presence of spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules and cauda epididymis were observed at the age of 105 days onwards. Present study depicts that sexual maturity in male T. indica is attained at the age of 3-4 months.