title: Serum hormonal, electrolytes and trace element profiles in the rutting and non-rutting one-humped male camel (Camelus dromedarius).
abstract: The camel is known to be a seasonal breeder and, in the male camel, the breeding activity maximizes during the rutting period (winter and spring seasons). During the non-rutting period (summer and autumn), however, the breeding activity almost ceases completely. Serum steroid hormonal, electrolytes and trace element profiles were studied in 16 adult male camels aged 5-9 years, slaughtered during the rutting (n=8) and non-rutting periods (n=8). Moreover, testicular and epididymal tissue contents of electrolytes and trace elements were also studied during these two periods. Serum levels of testosterone, progesterone and T(4):T(3) ratio were higher in the rutting animals when compared to the non-rutting ones, while the reverse was true for serum T(3), T(4) and corticosterone levels (p<0.01). Among minerals, serum levels of sodium, calcium, copper and zinc were higher, while those of potassium were lower, in the rutting than non-rutting camels. In the testicular tissue, the levels of sodium, calcium, copper and iron were higher in the rutting group, while magnesium was higher in non-rutting one. In the epididymis, the tissue levels of chloride, iron and zinc were higher in the rutting than non-rutting period. These results demonstrate a clear evidence of the distribution of steroid hormones, electrolytes and trace elements forming and maintaining a certain level at two different physiological states in camels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan. drziar@yahoo.com
authors.lastname: Zia-Ur-Rahman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Shazia Anwer
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bukhari
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: I U
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Haq
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002162:Camelus / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006728:Hormones; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D012964:Sodium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium