title: Comparative studies on testicular and epididymal morphology, and serum hormone concentrations in foxes and the hybrids during the breeding season.
abstract: The silver fox and the blue fox belong to different genera, and the hybrid males are fully or partially sterile. In the present study, the objective was to evaluate the causes of hybrid male sterility, and therefore analyze the differences in testicular, and epididymal morphology and serum hormone concentrations among silver foxes, blue foxes, and the hybrids during the breeding season. Samples were collected from 20 male silver foxes, 20 male blue foxes, 15 male HSBs (silver fox female × blue fox male hybrids) and 14 male HBSs (blue fox male × silver fox female hybrids), respectively. Seminal evaluation showed large numbers of sperm present in the semen of blue foxes and silver foxes, but no sperm present in the hybrids. Mean testicular volume and the diameter of seminiferous tubules in silver foxes and blue foxes were greater than in the hybrids; and there were many Sertoli cells, spermatogenic cells, and sperm in silver foxes and blue foxes, while spermatogenic cells decreased with no sperm in the hybrids. Mean serum LH and prolactin concentrations in silver foxes and blue foxes were less and testosterone was greater than in the hybrids (P<0.05). The results indicate that germ cell meioses in the hybrids were arrested at the prophase stage of meiosis, and that lesser concentrations of testosterone and greater concentrations of LH and prolactin can inhibit the completion of spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: X C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China.
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Special Economic Animals, Key Laboratory of Special Economic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Institute of Special Economic Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, PR China. Electronic address: yangfh@126.com.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone
keywords: Blue fox; Hybrids; Serum hormone concentrations; Silver fox; Testis