Body and testicular biometry of Crioulo stallions

ABSTRACT: Brazilian Association of Crioulo Horse Breeders (ABCCC) establishes minimal and maximal body biometrics evaluation; although, nothing is mentioned about testicular measurements. Body and testicular growth are associated and related to age. We described data regarding body and testicular biometry of Crioulo stallions, with a comparative study between young and adult categories. Evaluation was performed in 56 stallions, Crioulo breed, split in: youngsters (3 and 4 years-old, n=16) and adults (above 5 years-old, n=40). Body biometry included weight, height, cannon bone and chest circumference, body score condition and neck fat accumulation. Testicular biometry included height, length, width, volume, combined volume and daily sperm output (DSO). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistic, Pearson correlation, comparison between means by Kruskal Wallis, being P < 0.05 considered significant. There was no significant difference between the parameters of body and testicular biometrics between categories young and adult. In relation to height, the average was very close to the lower limit established, while chest and cannon bone circumference were above the minimum recommended by ABCCC. Cannon bone circumference presented a positive correlation with height. Most of stallions presented excessive body fat, with a body score condition above 8 (scale 1-9). Neck fat accumulation presented a positive correlation with body score condition. Testicular height, length, width and volume presented a positive correlation between the ipsi and contralateral testicle, total testicular volume and DSO. In conclusion, no difference in the body and testicular biometric evaluation was observed between young and adult Crioulo stallions. Testicular and body growth are associated and also related to age, so our finding suggested that after 3-4 years-old most of Crioulo stallions have already reached maximum growth.

Impact of Management Factors on Seminal Attributes and Frozen Semen Doses Production in Holstein Friesian Crossbred Dairy Bulls

This study reports on important management factors that have impacts on semen characteristics, sperm production ability and cryo-preservability in dairy bulls. Except volume, bull types (FSD i.e. frozen semen dose producer vs Non-FSD bulls) differentiated most of the semen traits (P < 0.01). Age showed significant impacts on seminal attributes both in FSD and Non-FSD bulls. In FSD bulls semen traits increased significantly even up to 5 years age, in contrast, only 2 years in Non-FSD bulls. Overall semen quality index improved almost linearly with age advancement in FSD bulls (P < 0.01) but not in Non-FSD bulls, which showed very irrational trends. Seasons significantly (P < 0.01) influenced ejaculate characteristics. Overall semen quality, total sperm output and FSD production was the highest during summer and lowest in rainy seasons. Within a bull type (FSD/non-FSD) influence of age and season, and within age group impact of seasons was significant in most of the semen attributes. It was concluded that dependent on season, age of bull significantly influenced qualitative and quantitative attributes of semen; improvement being substantial in FSD bulls, but negligible in non-FSD bulls beyond 2 years age. Seasons of collection significantly influenced semen quality, sperm productivity and FSD production of bulls being highest in summer, followed by winter and least in rainy seasons. The study recommended that for effective FSD production, poor semen producer bulls should be culled as early as 2 years of age and during rainy season stress amelioration measures might mitigate FSD production losses from crossbred bulls.

TESTICULAR SIZE AND SPERM OUTPUT IN HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN AND N'DAMA BULLS

Records collected over a period of four months from October 1978 to January 1979 from four Holstein-Friesian and four N'dama hulls, were used to study the relationship between testicular size and sperm output. Semen samples were collected from the bulls twice a week using the artificial vagina and non-oestrous female teasers. The means (± s.e.) of testicular measurements for Holstein-Friesian and N'danta, respectively, were 35.6 ± 1.8 and 7.9 ± 0.3cm. for scrotal cir­cumference, 12.6 ± 0.3 and 7.7 ± 0.8cm for testis length, 6.7 ± 0.3 and 3.7 ± 0.2em for testis diameter. Calculated mean testicular volumes were 296.8 I 22.2 and 57.4 ± 10.1m1 respectively for Holstein-Friesian and N'dama bulls. T-he mean total sperm per ejaculate were 8.80 t 3.045 x 109 for (be Holstein-Friesian and 3.03 ± 0.905 x 109 for the N'dama bulls. Simple correla­tions for Holstein-Friesian and N'damn in the same order, were between body weight and scrotal dr. rumference 0.49 and 0.66, body weight and sperm output/einculate 0.48 and 0.88, scrotal cir­cumference and testicular volume 0.74 and 0.60. scrotal circumference and sperm outpuilejactilete 0.18 and 0.69, and testicular volume and sperm out­put/ejaculate —.45 and 0.84. Regression equations for predicting sperm oat­put/ejaculate from testicular volume are given as Y = .13.458 — .031 X and Y' = - .650 + 0,038 x respectively, for holstein-Friesian and N'dania bulls.

In Vivo Efficacy of TXCB, a Vietnamese Herbal Medicine Prescription, on Seminal Quality, Serum Testosterone, and Malondialdehyde Concentration in Rabbits

The efficacy of Truong Xuan Cao Bang (TXCB), a Vietnamese herbal medicine prescription, on the quality of semen, serum testosterone (TES), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in rabbits whose reproductive ability were impaired by fluconazole was investigated. Mature male rabbits were randomly assigned into control (G1), fluconazole (G2), fluconazole and 180 mg/kg/day (G3), and 360 mg/kg/day TXCB (G4) groups. The reaction time (RT), ejaculate volume (EV), sperm concentration (SC), total sperm output (TSO), total sperm motility (TSM), progressive sperm motility (PSM), nonprogressive sperm motility (NPSM), sperm immobility (SIM), dead sperm (DS), and abnormal sperm (AS) levels were determined after TXCB administration. After 60 days, G3 showed a significant increase in serum TES and a significant decrease in the concentrations of serum MDA (SMDA) and seminal plasma MDA (SPMDA) compared with G1, in addition to increase in EV, SC, TSO, TSM, PSM, and serum TES, and decrease in RT, SIM, DS, AS, SMDA, and SPMDA compared with G2. G4 showed a steep rise in EV, SC, and serum TES and a downturn in DS, SMDA, and SPMDA compared with G1, and, compared with G2, a significant increase in EV, SC, TSO, TSM, PSM, and serum TES and a significant decrease in RT, SIM, DS, AS, SMDA, and SPMDA. Taken together, TXCB rehabilitates and simultaneously enhances spermatogenesis in rabbits whose reproductive ability was impaired by fluconazole.

A Comparative Study of Semen Characteristics and Testosterone Concentration in Ram Breeds of Saudi Arabia

The goal of this study was to evaluate and compare the semen characteristics, and testosterone concentration for three breeds raised under hot, desert conditions in Saudi Arabia. A total of 150 rams (Najdi, Naemi, and Harri) were used, aged 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months (ten rams from each breed in each age group). Body weight and testicular parameters were measured. In addition, testosterone concentration (TC), ejaculate volume (EV), sperm concentration (SC), total sperm output per ejaculate (TSO), live sperm percentage (LSP), sperm progressive motility (SPM) and sperm mass motility (SMM). The results show that TC and EV differed significantly (P less than 0.01) between breeds. At 36 months, semen characteristics (TSO, SMM and SPM) differed significantly among breeds. Naemi rams were superior to Najdi and Harri in terms of the mean live sperm percentage (LSP) for all age groups. These results may assist in ram selection for breeding programs based on high reproductive performance.

Prospects for FSH Treatment of Male Infertility

Context Despite the new opportunities provided by assisted reproductive technology (ART), male infertility treatment is far from being optimized. One possibility, based on pathophysiological evidence, is to stimulate spermatogenesis with gonadotropins. Evidence Acquisition We conducted a comprehensive systematic PubMed literature review, up to January 2020, of studies evaluating the genetic basis of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) action, the role of FSH in spermatogenesis, and the effects of its administration in male infertility. Manuscripts evaluating the role of genetic polymorphisms and FSH administration in women undergoing ART were considered whenever relevant. Evidence Synthesis FSH treatment has been successfully used in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, but with questionable results in idiopathic male infertility. A limitation of this approach is that treatment plans for male infertility have been borrowed from hypogonadism, without daring to overstimulate, as is done in women undergoing ART. FSH effectiveness depends not only on its serum levels, but also on individual genetic variants able to determine hormonal levels, activity, and receptor response. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the follicle-stimulating hormone subunit beta (FSHB) and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) genes have been described, with some of them affecting testicular volume and sperm output. The FSHR p.N680S and the FSHB –211G&gt;T variants could be genetic markers to predict FSH response. Conclusions FSH may be helpful to increase sperm production in infertile men, even if the evidence to recommend the use of FSH in this setting is weak. Placebo-controlled clinical trials, considering the FSHB-FSHR haplotype, are needed to define the most effective dosage, the best treatment length, and the criteria to select candidate responder patients.