Investigating IGF-I gene expression and histological changes of testes during the sexual ‎maturity of native roosters

In order to investigate the changes of IGF-I gene transcription during the sexual maturity period of Fars native roosters, 24 roosters in the age of 5, 6, 7, and 8 months were selected randomly. In each date of sampling 6 roosters were slaughtered and testes were collected for evaluation the level of IGF-I gene transcription. The results indicated that IGF-I gene transcription in the testes of 6, 7 and 8-month roosters were increased compared to 5-month roosters while the expression of this gene did not change in 7th months compared to 6th months. The results also indicated that the level of IGF-I gene transcription did not differ significantly in left and right testes in all ages (5th-8th months) but the left and right testes weight increased in 7th and 8th months compared to 5th and 6th months. The maximum and the minimum rates of left testis length to its width were observed in 6th and 8th months respectively but this rate did not change in right testis among different ages. Histological investigation also indicated that the maximum number of Sertoli and Leydig cells in both left and right testes was observed on 8th months. In conclusion the results indicated that the gene transcription of IGF-I had an increasing procedure during the sexual maturity period of roosters (5th-8th months) and weight of the left and right testes reached to their maximum rate in 7th and 8th months.