title: Changes in profiles of serum sex steroids of male buffaloes from birth to maturity.
abstract: Age-related changes in testosterone, progesterone and estradiol 17-beta were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in the serum of 155 male buffalo calves of varying ages. The calves were classified into 17 age groups. The mean weight of calves increased from 33.6+/-9.6 kg at one week of age to 531+/-41.4 kg at 42 months. The testosterone levels were less than 100 pg/ml from birth until 15 months of age, followed by peak concentrations of 422+/-79 pg/ml at 24 to 30 months and 793+/-193 pg/ml at 42 to 48 months (corresponding to puberty and maturity, respectively). The progesterone levels were higher in newly born calves and mature bulls. Otherwise, the levels continued to be low throughout the period of growth and development. Estradiol 17-beta was significantly higher in postnatal calves up to two months of age. The testosterone revealed a positive correlation with weight and age while E2 17-beta showed a negative correlation with age. These results do not support a direct role of peripheral progesterone and estradiol 17-beta in the onset of puberty and sexual maturity of buffalo bulls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar-125004, India.
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Dwaraknath