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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 #99213
Title: RELATIONSHIPS OF FSH CONCENTRATIONS AND TESTICULAR WEIGHT WITH SPERM PRODUCTION AND TESTICULAR FERRITIN AND IRON CONCENTRATIONS

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

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Humans afflicted with hemochromatosis (a genetic defect resulting in elevated iron concentrations) have decreased pituitary and testicular function. In swine, elevated plasma FSH concentrations are paradoxically associated with declines of testicular weights. Associated with increased FSH concentrations was an obvious increase in darkness of testicular tissues. It was hypothesized that the dark color was from an increasing content of iron and an iron protein. Crossbred Chinese Meishan:White composite boars (1/2:1/2) produced for maximum variation in testicular function (n = 132) were castrated at 219 days of age. After chromatographic identification, immunological quantitation of ferritin and atomic absorption analysis of iron concentrations in testicular tissue showed increased levels of ferritin and iron as testicular weight declined (p < .01). Daily sperm production (per g of testis or total sperm per testis) decreased in testis that had increased iron, ferritin, and circulating FSH concentrations (p < .01). A major activity of FSH at the testicular level is to increase transferrin production by Sertoli cells. Thus with the increased synthesis of transferrin in high FSH boars, the iron must be safely stored as ferritin.