Effects of administration of ergotamine tartrate on fertility of yearling beef bulls.
Sixteen yearling bulls were utilized to investigate administration of ergotamine tartrate on semen parameters, fertilization, and endocrinology. Bulls were allotted to a control diet of cracked corn, corn silage, and soybean meal (CON, n = 8) or a diet supplemented daily with 40 microg/kg body weight of ergotamine tartrate (ET, n = 8). Blood samples, average daily gain, scrotal circumference and rectal temperatures were collected every 14 day. Semen samples were obtained every 60 day and evaluated for motility and morphology. Scrotal temperatures were obtained by thermography immediately before electroejaculation. Semen from a subset of bulls from each treatment was also evaluated for in vitro fertilization. Administration of ET increased rectal temperature and resulted in lower scrotal temperatures compared to CON bulls (P < 0.05). However, prolactin, scrotal circumference, testosterone, and semen motility and morphology did not differ between groups throughout the experimental period (224 day). Cleavage rates of embryos derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF) with semen of bulls, fed with ET, were reduced compared to CON (P < 0.05); however, development of cleaved embryos to blastocyst did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, extended exposure of bulls to ET appeared to reduce fertilization potential of sperm.
Schuenemann
Gustavo M
GM
Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
Edwards
J Lannett
JL
Davis
Mark D
MD
Blackmon
Heather E
HE
Scenna
Fernando N
FN
Rohrbach
Nancy R
NR
Saxton
Arnold M
AM
Adair
H Stephen
HS
Hopkins
Fred M
FM
Waller
John C
JC
Schrick
F Neal
FN
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum; D004032:Diet; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004878:Ergotamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012611:Scrotum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D004878:Ergotamine