The post-natal differentiation of sexual behaviour in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

An experiment was carried out to study the contribution of endogenous steroids during postnatal life to the sexual differentiation in Japanese quail. Male and female quail were gonadectomized at one week of age and when adult received testosterone silastic capsules. Seventy seven percent of these females showed male-type sexual behaviour and 46 percent even copulated. All males showed sexual behaviour including cloacal contact movements. Males and females grew cloacal glands of nearly identical sizes in response to the testosterone treatment. It is concluded that sexual differentiation in quail is at least in part a postnatal process and more research is needed to elucidate its exact mechanisms and time course.