Age-related changes in plasma testosterone concentrations and genital organs content of bulk and trace elements in the male dromedary camel.
There is a paucity of information regarding the influence of plasma testosterone concentrations and inorganic cations secreted in the different seminal fractions on the spermatozoon activity throughout the reproductive life of the one-humped camels. To demonstrate these relationships, the genital organs of 12 prepubertal (<3 years), 9 peripubertal (3-<5 years), 16 mature (5-<15 years) and 15 aged (>/=15 years) camels were collected from the Buraidah slaughter house (Al-Qassim Province, Saudi Arabia) during two consecutive breeding seasons (November-April) over 2 years. Plasma testosterone concentrations (mean+/-S.E.) did not exceed 1.4 ng/ml in prepubertal animals with a 3-4 fold increase in peripubertal (3.2+/-0.4 ng/ml) and mature (4.8+/-0.6 ng/ml) camels followed by about 50% decrease (2.6+/-0.3 ng/ml) in aged ones. These hormonal changes were correlated significantly with concentrations of certain elements in the testes (highest Na, Ca and Cu contents), epididymides (highest P and Fe contents), prostate (highest Zn content), and bulbo-urethral glands (highest K and Mg contents). The significance of some interrelationships among the different cations and their biological effects on sperm production and metabolic activity were discussed.
Al-Qarawi
A A
AA
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, King Saud University, Buraydah.
Abdel-Rahman
H A
HA
El-Belely
M S
MS
El-Mougy
S A
SA
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002030:Bulbourethral Glands / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002162:Camelus / Q000502:physiology*; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis; D004822:Epididymis / Q000737:chemistry; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D014131:Trace Elements; D010758:Phosphorus; D013739:Testosterone; D003300:Copper; D012964:Sodium; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium