title: Effects of a GnRH administration on testosterone profile, libido and semen parameters of dromedary camel bulls.
abstract: GnRH treatment has been suggested to increase testosterone levels temporarily and to stimulate libido in stallions, but its use has not fully ascertained in dromedary camels. The aim of this work was to study the effects of administering 100 μg of GnRH on testosterone profile, libido and semen parameters in dromedary camels. The same bulls were used as self-controls and experimental group. Blood samples were collected every 20 min (T0-T12) for 4h, and semen collections were performed over a 2-hour period after T12. GnRH was administered immediately after T0. In GnRH-treated bulls, testosterone levels showed an upward trend, peaking after 140 min, and then slowly decreasing. GnRH administration also led to a decrease in mating time and an increase in spermatozoa concentration. Overall, it seems that administration of 100 μg GnRH might increase testosterone levels temporarily and enhance camel reproduction performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A.), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia; Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott-Meriem, University of Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fatnassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: barbara.padalino@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Padalino
authors.affiliation: Laboratoires d'Ethologie Animale et Humaine EthoS, University of Rennes, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Lydiane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aubé
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A.), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Touhami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khorchani
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A.), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Michele
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lacalandra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000502:physiology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Camelus dromedarius; Ejaculate quality; GnRH; Semen collection; Sexual behavior; Testosterone