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.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, King Saud University, Buraydah.
A A
AA
Al-Qarawi
H A
HA
Abdel-Rahman
M S
MS
El-Belely
S A
SA
El-Mougy
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