64
ABSTRACTS
threshold amounts of light. The length of the dioestrous interval and the duration
of pregenancy were not affected by the reversal of the sexual season produced
artificially.
Rams. Seasonal variation in fertility of rams also appeared to be controlled
by the light environment. Artificial reversal of the seasonal light conditions during
summer gave rise to a period of high fertility as opposed to natural decline in libido
and semen quality observed at this time of the year. The author discusses at
length the role of light environment in conditioning sexual activity in animals.
(S. S. P.)
Application of water to the body surface of water buffaloes and its effect on milk
yeild. SINHA, K. C. AND MINETT, F. C. (1947). J. Ani. Sci., 6, 258
T HE authors conducted observations on some milch buffaloes in the peak of
their lactation during May and June to determine whether cooling of their body
surfaces by wetting with water before milking had a desirable influence on their
milk yields. Four sets of observations over consecutive periods of ten days each
were carried out. In the first period animals were splashed with water for five
minutes both in the morning and evening before milking, in the second period
splashing was omitted, in the third period the whole group was split into two, one of
which was treated with splashing and the other was left un-treated, and in the fourth
period all the animals were brought back to the routine practice of splashing. The
results indicated that during the summer months cooling of body by wetting is
essential. When this is omitted the milk yield declines and becomes irregular, the
variations were found to be statistically significant. (T. A.)
Fructose and citric acid assay in the secretions of the accessory glands of reproduc-
tion as indicator tests of male sex hormone activity. J. Endocrinology, (1949), 6, 75
T HE basis of indicator tests for male sex hormone have been either anatomical
or cytological. The authors have introduced a chemical test—' fructose test'.
This test is based upon their finding that the secretion of fructose by the male acce-
ssory organs of reproduction is initiated and maintained by the male sex hormone.
Castration very early in life has been demonstrated to be followed by the non-
production of fructose as well as reprogressive changes in the accessory organs of
reproduction. Under the conditions of the experimental set up employed in this
investigation, treatment with Testosterone—Propionate of castrated male led
to a very significant rise in fructose content of the accessory glands of reproduction
in comparison, anatomical and cytological regeneration was found to be slight.
Bull semina. vesicles, which is the chief site of formation of furctose and citric acid,
was subjected to anatomical, cytological and chemical study at maturity and various
stages of sexual development. The devlopment of the fructose secretory function
of the gland was found to run parallel with the morphologic changes in the gland
as well as the growth of the tubules. It has also been, observed that fructose as
well as citric acid appear in the male accessory organs of reproduction before sper-
matogenesis sets in the testis. The observation has been interpreted as evidence