LH and testosterone responses to gonadoliberin (LRH) treatment in young bulls prior to and during puberty (original) (raw)
Related papers
Changes in the hypophysial-gonadal axis during the onset of puberty in young bulls
Reproduction, 1993
The objectives of this study were to determine the extent of changes in concentrations of testosterone, growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations in blood plasma and to characterize the respective plasma-binding proteins of these two peptides during the onset of puberty in male calves. The jugular veins of six male Holstein calves (11-weeks-old) were catheterized and blood was collected every 3 days (one sample every 30 min for 8 h). Hormone concentrations in plasma were determined by specific radioimmunoassay. After incubation with [125I]IGF-I, IGF-I-binding proteins (IGFBPs) were separated by gel filtration; radioactivity was determined in each fraction. Western ligand blotting using radiolabelled hormones as ligand was also used to characterize the IGF-I-and GH-binding proteins in plasma. Puberty was characterized by a rapid (in 1 or 2 days) increase in mean concentrations of testosterone in plasma (from 0.5 to >2 ng ml \m=-\1) and a pulsatile release of the hormone. During puberty, IGF-I concentrations also increased rapidly in 8\p=n-\10 days from \m=+-\50 ngml\m=-\1to > 150 ng ml \m=-\1, whereas concentrations of GH in plasma remained relatively stable during the experimental period. A significant correlation was observed between IGF-I and testosterone concentrations (r = 0.77; P < 0.001) throughout the experimental period. Three different IGF-I-binding protein fractions with apparent molecular masses of > 200, 150\p=n-\170and 45\p=n-\65kDa were found in plasma using gel filtration. The 150\p=n-\170kDa IGF-I-binding protein complex was more abundant after puberty, whereas the lower molecular mass fraction was slightly decreased. This release was confirmed by ligand blotting analysis. The binding subunit of the 150\p=n-\170kDa complex (molecular mass = 45\p=n-\ 54 kDa; IGFBP-3) was more prominent after puberty, whereas the intensity of the 38 kDa band (IGFBP-2) was decreased. During this physiological step, migrant GH-binding proteins at 190, 58 and 31 kDa presented similar band intensities in all animals. In conclusion, puberty in male calves was associated with subsequent increases in amounts of testosterone, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 complex, whereas IGFBP-2 was reduced. IGF-I and perhaps IGFBPs could be used as indicators of the establishment of puberty. In practice, this factor could be better than testosterone for evaluating hormonal status because of its nycthemeral stability.
Reproduction, 1997
In bull calves serum concentrations of LH, FSH, and to a lesser extent testosterone, are increased transiently, between 6 and 20 weeks of age. The function of gonadotrophin and testosterone secretion in this period of growth and development was tested by injecting five Hereford bull calves with a GnRH agonist (15 mg Leuprolide acetate) i.m. at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age; five vehicle treated calves acted as controls. On the basis of blood samples taken every 15 min for 10 h, at 12 weeks of age, mean serum concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone and LH and FSH pulse frequency and amplitude were decreased (P < 0.05) by Leuprolide acetate. At 24 weeks of age, mean serum concentrations of LH, and LH and FSH pulse frequency in Leuprolide acetate treated calves exceeded (P < 0.05) that seen in control calves. On the basis of blood samples taken every other week, treatment with Leuprolide acetate decreased mean serum concentrations of FSH and testosterone at 14, 16 and 18 weeks of age compared with control calves and delayed the peak of the early increase in LH secretion from 20 to 24 weeks of age (P < 0.05). Scrotal circumference between 22 and 50 weeks of age, pixel units from ultrasound images of the testes, testis mass at castration at 50 weeks of age, and numbers of spermatids and pachytene spermatocytes were all lower in Leuprolide treated calves than in controls. A transient increase in secretion of LH, FSH and testosterone in young bull calves before 20 weeks of age may, therefore, be a critical step in the initiation and timing of testicular development in bull calves.
Theriogenology, 1994
Thirty crossbred bulls, 12 to 13 mo of age, were used to examine the relationship of testosterone and progesterone concentrations and testosterone:progesterone ratio to measurements of testicular function. Bulls were allotted to 1 of 2 groups based on scrotal circumferences (SC) as follows: the Small SC (n=20) group had scrotal circumference less than 28 cm while the Large SC (n=10) group had scrotal circumference greater than 28 cm. All bulls were administered GnRH (100 ug, ira), and blood was obtained immediately prior to injection (t=0), 30 min after injection (t=30) and 2 to 3 h after injection (t=150). Serum was assayed for concentrations of testosterone and progesterone. Semen was evaluated for the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa. Testicular parenchyma was sectioned and stained, and 300 cross sections per testis of seminiferous tubules were examined under a light microscope and classified as either active (spermatocytes and spermatids present) or inactive (no spermatocytes or spermatids present). Although progesterone concentrations varied widely (range: 21 pg/ml to 1070 pg/ml), repeated measurements from individual bulls were highly correlated (r"=0.74) and did not change significantly (P > 0.1) in response to GnRH treatment. Small SC bulls had a higher percentage of inactive seminiferous tubules (P < 0.001) and a lower percentage. morphologically normal spermatozoa (P < 0.001) than Large SC bulls, but no differences in testosterone or progesterone concentrations or in the ratio of testosterone:progesterone were detected. Mean serum testosterone concentration increased (P < 0.0001) by 30 min after GnRH treatment and continued to increase (P < 0.0001) through t=150 but did not differ (p > 0.1) between groups. Normal testosterone secretion in response to GnRH injection suggested that no biochemical lesions in the testosterone production pathway were present in bulls with very small scrotal circumference.
Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 2007
The objective of the present study was to characterize the effects of nutrition on circulating concentrations of metabolic hormones, gonadotropins, and testosterone during sexual development in bulls. Nutrition regulated the hypothalamus-pituitary-testes axis through effects on the GnRH pulse generator in the hypothalamus and through direct effects on the testes. Pituitary function (gonadotropin secretion after GnRH challenge) was not affected by nutrition. However, nutrition affected LH pulse frequency and basal LH concentration during the early gonadotropin rise (10-26 weeks of age). There were close temporal associations between changes in insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations and changes in LH pulse frequency, suggesting a role for IGF-I in regulating the early gonadotropin rise in bulls. The peripubertal increase in testosterone concentration was delayed in bulls with lesser serum IGF-I concentrations (low nutrition), suggesting a role for IGF-I in regulating Leydig cell function. Serum IGF-I concentrations accounted for 72 and 67% of the variation in scrotal circumference and paired-testes volume, respectively (at any given age), indicating that IGF-I may regulate testicular growth. Bulls with a more sustained elevated LH pulse frequency during the
Reproduction, 2003
Administration of GnRH agonist for an extended period inhibits pulsatile LH release but enhances testicular function of bulls. The mechanism whereby long-term administration of GnRH agonist enhances testosterone concentration in the blood of bulls has not been determined. The aim of this study was to determine whether chronic treatment with the GnRH agonist, azagly-nafarelin, increases blood concentrations of LH and FSH in prepubertal bulls. Two different doses of the GnRH agonist were administered via Alzet mini-osmotic pumps for 28 days. Blood samples were collected at 20 min intervals for 24 h at days 2, 13 and 25 of treatment. Agonist-treated groups had reduced testosterone pulse frequency (P < 0.05) and increased mean and basal concentrations of testosterone (P < 0.05) compared with untreated control bulls. Basal LH concentrations were higher in agonist-treated bulls during all three periods (P < 0.05) and overall (1 ng ml −1 higher, compared with control bulls; P < 0.001). Frequency of LH pulses in the agonist-treated groups was reduced to less than one pulse in 24 h. Agonist-treated bulls tended to have (P < 0.10) or had (P < 0.05) a slight but significant increase in blood FSH concentration. In conclusion, the higher blood testosterone concentration in bulls after prolonged treatment with GnRH agonist may result, at least in part, from changes in the testes induced by enhanced basal concentration of LH.
Journal of Animal Science, 2005
The objective was to compare testis characteristics of Zebu bulls treated with the GnRH agonist, deslorelin, at different times and for different durations during their development. An additional objective was to determine the usefulness of a stain for the transcription factor GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA-4) as a specific marker for Sertoli cell nuclei in cattle. Bulls (54) were allocated to nine groups (n = 6) and received s.c. deslorelin implants as follows: G1 = from birth to 3 mo of age; G2 = from 3 to 6 mo; G3 = from 6 to 9 mo; G4 = from 9 to 12 mo; G5 = from birth to 15 mo; G6 = from 3 to 15 mo; G7 = from 6 to 15 mo; G8 = from 12 to 15 mo; and G9 (control) = no implant. Bulls were castrated at 19 mo of age. Paraffin sections (10 m) were subjected to quantitative morphometry and GATA-4 immunohistochemistry. At castration, all bulls in the control group (6/6) had attained puberty (scrotal circumference ≥ 28 cm), whereas a smaller proportion (P < 0.05) had reached puberty in G2 (2/5) and G6 (1/ 6). Bulls in G2 and G6 also had a lesser (P < 0.05) testis
Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 2007
The objective of the present study was to characterize changes in serum metabolic hormones concentrations from 20 weeks before to 20 weeks post-puberty in bulls and to investigate the associations of metabolic hormones concentrations with testicular development. Leptin concentrations increased from 16 weeks before puberty to 8 weeks postpuberty and insulin concentrations increased from puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty. Growth hormone concentrations decreased after 4 weeks post-puberty, whereas IGF-I concentrations increased from 8 weeks before puberty to 8 weeks post-puberty. During this period, testicular growth was accelerated and testosterone secretion increased substantially, without any significant changes in gonadotropin secretion. Monthly circulating concentrations of leptin, IGF-I and insulin accounted for 63% of the variation in scrotal circumference and 59% of the variation in paired testes volume. In conclusion, the secretion of metabolic hormones was not associated with changes in gonadotropins concentrations. Furthermore, the associations of leptin, IGF-I and insulin concentrations with testes size indicated that these hormones might be involved in a gonadotropin-independent mechanism regulating the testicular development in peripubertal bulls.
Ontogeny of estradiol secretion in Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls
Theriogenology, 1993
To assess age differences in estradiol release in peripheral circulation, sequential blood samples were obtained at hourly intervals for a period of 24 hours from neonatal (l-week-old, n=2), juvenile (12-month-old, n=2), prepubertal (la-month-old, n=2) and adult (52-month-old, n=2) buffalo bulls. A pulsatile pattern of estradiol secretion was observed in all age groups except the prepubertal group, in which estradiol levels remained nondetectable. Overall mean e&radio1 concentrations varied significantly (PcO.05) between the different age groups. However, most of the characteristics of short-term estradiol secretion were comparable (P~0.05) in neonate, juvenile and adult animals. Data on temporal variations in plasma estradiol concentrations did not reveal a diurnal rhythm in the secretion of this steroid at any stage of development. The results indicate pulsatile secretion of estradiol and a decline in estradiol level near puberty, suggesting its role in the activation of hypothalamic-pituitary axis during sexual development in the male buffalo.