1978/01/01 by A.J. Hall-Martin, J. D. Skinner, B.J. Hopkins · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Reproductive Physiology in Livestock #Sperm and Testicular Function #Reproductive Biology and Fertility
paper · doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0520001
openalex publication_date 1978/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/19
The reproductive organs of the male giraffe differ little in morphology and histology from those of other ungulates. There is some indication that gonadal hypertrophy occurs in late fetal life. Spermatogenesis begins at 3-4 years of age and coincides with a rapid increase of testicular weight and seminiferous tubule diameter. In the fetal testis the main hormone is androsteredione (2.73 microgram/g) but in adult testes testosterone is predominant (less than 10.08 microgram/g) and delta' testosterone may also be present.