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Effects of Unilateral Castration and Unilateral Cryptorchidism of the Holstein Bull on Plasma Gonadotropins Testosterone and Testis Anatomy^1,2,

Clemson University, Clemson SC 29631

³ Reprint Requests: Dept. of Dairy Sci., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Abstract

The effects of unilateral castration (UC) and induced unilateral cryptorchidism (CR) on plasma hormones and testis anatomy were studied in 36 Holstein bulls altered at either 3, 6 or 9 mo of age (n = 12). Plasma hormone concentrations were determined in six samples collected at hourly intervals on d 0, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30, and then at monthly intervals through 6 mo after gonadal manipulation. Although plasma testosterone (T) showed a transient decrease (P<.05) immediately after treatment, mean plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and T were unaffected by UC or CR over the 6-mo period (P>.05). Both hormones increased (P<.05) in concentration with advancing age. Plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration was greater (P<.05) in UC than in intact (IN) bulls overall, while FSH in CR bulls did not differ (P>.05) from either group. At slaughter, 11 mo after gonadal alteration, mean testis weight, ratio of testis weight to body weight and mean testis sperm cell numbers were increased (P<.05) in UC bulls compared with mean testis values in intact (IN) bulls. Unilateral castration increased (P<.05) seminiferous tubuler diameter and seminiferous epithelial cell height from basement membrane to the border of the lumen, but did not alter the ratio of tubuler to interstitial space within the testis. Seminiferous tubuler diameter and epithelial cell height were increased (P<.05) in CR compared with IN bulls. Unilateral gonadal alteration at 3 mo of age caused a greater (P<.05) hypertrophy of the scrotal testis in both UC and CR bulls than alteration at 6 or 9 mo of age. Results indicate that unilateral gonadal disruption is followed by rapid compensation in testis T production, little change in systemic LH and a rapid increase in secretion of FSH in the bull within those ages investigated. Further, UC elicits a greater compensatory hypertrophy than CR and the pituitary-testis endocrine axis is more responsive to alteration at 3 mo than at 6 or 9 mo of age in the bull.

¹ Scientific Contribution No. 1975, South Carolina Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Dept. of Dairy Sci.

⁴ The authors are indebted to K. W. Cheng, Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, for purified bovine FSH and specific bovine FSH antiserum; L. E. Reichert for purified bovine LH (LER-1072); T. E. Kiser, Univ. of Georgia, Athens, for LH antiserum #190; G. D. Niswender, Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins, for testosterone antiserum, S250, and the Endocrine Study Section, Bethesda, MD, for pituitary hormones.