Reproductive capacity in male mink after long distance transportation in pregnant females.
Young American male mink born in Finland from imported pregnant females showed a clear delay (p less than 0.05) in testicular development as compared with local male mink in late February and produced semen of unsatisfactory quality during the breeding season in March. Better sperm quality (p less than 0.05) and better testicular development (p less than 0.1-0.05) was obtained in older American male mink born in Finland as compared with younger American male mink and the local breeding stock. Serum testosterone concentrations during six successive months in American males indicated a clear delay in sexual maturity and it could also be established that testosterone development reached normal levels in American males after 2 generations born in Finland. There were no differences in the serum thyroxine concentrations between American and local male mink.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008907:Mink / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014195:Travel
D013739:Testosterone