Ovarian steroid hormone production in a multiple ovulating male line and a single ovulating traditional line of turkeys

Ovarian production of oestradiol and progesterone was investigated in a single ovulating traditional line and a multiple ovulating male line of turkeys. The oestradiol output from small follicles in response to LH stimulation and the aromatase activity of the residual ovary were also compared. The multiple hierarchy of follicles in the male line was shown to consist of a series of follicles of a similar size and stage of physiological maturation. The follicles of the traditional line produced significantly greater quantities of oestradiol than those of the male line. Impaired oestradiol production may have resulted in the lower plasma oestradiol concentration observed in the male line. There was no difference in follicular progesterone output between the traditional-line and male-line turkeys. The oestradiol output of whole small white follicles in response to LH stimulation was similar in the two lines and the depressed steroidogenesis of the male line was not changed. The aromatase activity of the small follicles was also lower in the male line, and there was no evidence that the male line ovary produced oestradiol in quantities proportional to its size. The results demonstrated that the hierarchy of follicles in the male line consisted of groups of follicles of similar mass and hormone output and indicated that selection for increased meat yield may have resulted in reduced ovarian steroidogenesis in male-line turkeys, in comparison with traditional, unselected turkeys.