Anti-Muellerian hormone, inhibin A, gonadotropins, and gonadotropin receptors in bull calves after partial scrotal resection, orchidectomy, and Burdizzo castration.
Eight-week-old calves were either castrated by partial scrotal resection (SR) without removing the testes (n = 10), Burdizzo (BZ) clamp (n = 10), orchidectomy (OR; n = 10), or were left gonad intact as controls (CO; n = 10). Concentrations of anti-Muellerian hormone (AMH), inhibin A, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in plasma were determined from 16 to 48 weeks of age. At 18 months, testes of SR, BZ, and CO bulls were obtained and the immunolocalization of LH and FSH receptors and AMH analyzed. Concentration of AMH in plasma of CO and SR bulls decreased with increasing age (P < 0.001). A similar AMH profile in CO and SR indicates that SR did not induce a true cryptorchid state. In groups OR and BZ, AMH was undetectable. Plasma inhibin concentration was higher in groups CO and SR than BZ and OR (P < 0.001). Plasma LH and FSH concentrations decreased over time (P < 0.001) and were higher in groups BZ and OR than SR and CO (P < 0.001). In the testes, immunolabeling for AMH existed in Sertoli cells of CO and SR but not BZ bulls. FSH receptors were localized in Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, spermatocytes, and the epididymis of CO and SR animals, whereas LH receptors were restricted to Leydig cells. In BZ animals, FSH and LH receptors and AMH were absent, indicating complete testicular degeneration. In conclusion, AMH is a more reliable marker for the presence of testicular tissue in bulls than inhibin. Scrotal resection did not induce a true inguinal cryptorchid state but affected testicular responsiveness to gonadotropic stimulation.
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: dragos.scarlet@vetmeduni.ac.at.
Dragos
D
Scarlet
Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Christine
C
Aurich
Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Natascha
N
Ille
Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Ingrid
I
Walter
Laboklin Laboratories, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
Corinna
C
Weber
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Dagmar
D
Pieler
Dr-vet Veterinary Associates, Lebring, Austria.
Walter
W
Peinhopf
Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
Peter
P
Wohlsein
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Jörg
J
Aurich
D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011967:Receptors, Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012611:Scrotum / Q000601:surgery
D006062:Gonadotropins; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D011967:Receptors, Gonadotropin; D011974:Receptors, LH; C422362:inhibin A; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Castration; Cattle; Fertility; Scrotal resection