Annual pineal and testicular cycle in the Indian jungle bush quail, Perdicula asiatica, with reference to the effect of pinealectomy.

The annual testicular cycle of Perdicula asiatica has a single peak which appears to be under the dual influence of the environment and the pineal gland. An inverse relationship was noted between pineal gland and testicular weight cycle. Pinealectomy, after 60 days, retarded testicular growth in the progressive phase, inhibited activity of the gonad in the active phase, and accelerated gonadal regression in the regressive phase. This complete study of short-term pinealectomy effects on the annual testicular cycle of a tropical bird for the first time reflects both the essentialness of the pineal gland to the maintenance of proper testicular cyclicity under natural environment conditions and the progonadotropic nature of the pineal gland.