HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lindley, C. E. Articles by Warwick, E. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Lindley, C. E. Articles by Warwick, E. J.

The Effect of Vitamin A Deficiency on Semen Quality and the Effect of Testosterone and Pregnant Mare Serum on Vitamin A Deficient Rams¹

State College of Washington^,4

Abstract

Thirty-five Hampshire and Columbia ram lambs were put on experiment at three to five months of age and fed natural rations almost devoid of carotene supplemented in various lots with (1) vitamin A, (2) ten members of the vitamin B-complex, (3) testosterone propionate, or (4) pregnant mare serum.

Vitamin A supplementation resulted in normal growth, normal blood vitamin A and C levels, and the production of normal semen, The effects of other supplements were negligible. Rams on rations not supplemented with vitamin A developed deficiency symptoms after periods of from 7 to 21 weeks on experiment. These included muscular and nervous incoordination, partial loss of appetite, general weakness, night blindness, mild convulsions, and general unthriftiness. Plasma vitamin A and C dropped lto low levels and semen quality was low in the deficient rams. Hemoglobin level of the blood was not affected. Neither testosterone propionate nor pregnant mare serum exerted any beneficial influence on semen quality of vitamin A deficient rams. A high percentage of the deficient rams had cystic pituitary glands at autopsy.

Several rams in both the deficient and vitamin A supplemented lots developed urinary calculi during the experiment.

¹ Published as Scientific Paper No. 807, College of Agriculture and Agricultural Experiment Stations, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, State College of Washington, Pullman, Washington.

² Present address: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

³ Present address: Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana.

⁴ Division of Animal Husbandry. The assistance of Dr. R. W. Colby, Division of Animal Husbandry, and Dr. D. R. Cordy, College of Veterinary Medicine, is gratefully acknowledged. We are indebted to Dr. D. F. Green of Merck and Company, Rahway, New Jersey, for supplying biotin and other B-complex vitamins. The cooperation of Dr. T. H. Jukes and Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, New York, in supplying pteroylglutamic acid is gratefully acknowledged. The vitamin A oil (oladol) was supplied through the courtesy of E. B. Carter, Abbott Research Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois. The testosterone propionate (Perandren) was supplied through the cooperation of Ciba Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., Summit, New Jersey. Through the interest of Cutter Laboratories, Berkeley, California, some of the pregnant mare serum (Gonadin) was graciously supplied.

A 350 foot 16 mm. silent-color film describing this experiment can be obtained from the Department of Visual Education at Washington State College, Pullman, Washington.