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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #97343
Title: DIFFERENCES IN TESTICULAR FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH OR LOW PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF FSH DURING DEVELOPMENT IN LITTERMATE BOARS

Author
item Lunstra, Donald
item Wise, Thomas
item Ford, Johny

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We previously reported that plasma FSH is negatively correlated with mature testicular weight and total sperm production. The objective of this experiment was to define differences in testicular structure, daily sperm production (DSP) and steroidogenic capacity associated with divergent FSH concentrations during development in boars. Seven sires were used to produce seven littermate pairs of 1/2 Meishan x 1/2 White Composite boars. Littermates differed (P<.01) in plasma FSH at 4, 5 and 6 mo of age (HiFSH vs LoFSH). Blood samples, testicular morphology and in vitro steroidogenesis were evaluated at 1 yr of age. Littermates did not differ in bodyweight, but LoFSH boars had lower (P<.01) serum FSH and testosterone (T), and had larger (P<.001) testes weight and total DSP than HiFSH boars at 1 yr of age. Testes of boars with LoFSH had smaller (P<.01) percentage interstitial tissue, percentage Leydig cells, and average Leydig cell size than HiFSH boars. LoFSH boars had a greater number of Leydig cells (P<.001), but LoFSH and HiFSH boars did not differ in total mass of Leydig cells per paired testes. Production of T in vitro per gram of testis (P<.02) and per million Leydig cells (P<.03) was lower for LoFSH boars, but T production per paired testes did not differ (P=.23) between LoFSH and HiFSH boars. In these littermate boars, divergence in FSH concentrations during development was associated with altered development and function of both the Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules.