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Home / Equine Research Bank / Proc Biol Sci / Female major histocompatibility complex type affects male te...
Proceedings. Biological sciences2015; 282(1807); 20150407; doi: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0407

Female major histocompatibility complex type affects male testosterone levels and sperm number in the horse (Equus caballus).

Abstract: Odours of vertebrates often contain information about the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and are used in kin recognition, mate choice or female investment in pregnancy. It is, however, still unclear whether MHC-linked signals can also affect male reproductive strategies. We used horses (Equus caballus) to study this question under experimental conditions. Twelve stallions were individually exposed either to an unfamiliar MHC-similar mare and then to an unfamiliar MHC-dissimilar mare, or vice versa. Each exposure lasted over a period of four weeks. Peripheral blood testosterone levels were determined weekly. Three ejaculates each were collected in the week after exposure to both mares (i.e. in the ninth week) to determine mean sperm number and sperm velocity. We found high testosterone levels when stallions were kept close to MHC-dissimilar mares and significantly lower ones when kept close to MHC-similar mares. Mean sperm number per ejaculate (but not sperm velocity) was positively correlated to mean testosterone levels and also affected by the order of presentation of mares: sperm numbers were higher if MHC-dissimilar mares were presented last than if MHC-similar mares were presented last. We conclude that MHC-linked signals influence testosterone secretion and semen characteristics, two indicators of male reproductive strategies.
© 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2015-04-24 PubMed ID: 25904670PubMed Central: PMC4424655DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0407Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates the influence of female’s major histocompatibility complex (MHC) type on male testosterone levels and sperm count in horses. It shows that males kept with MHC-dissimilar females have higher testosterone levels and sperm count than those with MHC-similar females.

Objective of the Study

  • The study aimed at determining whether the MHC-linked signals in female horses could affect male reproductive strategies, such as testosterone production and semen characteristics.

Methodology

  • Twelve stallions were exposed individually to either an MHC-dissimilar mare and then an MHC-similar mare, or vice versa for over four weeks.
  • The peripheral blood testosterone levels were determined every week.
  • Three samples of ejaculate were collected in the ninth week after exposure to both mares. The purpose of this was to gauge the mean sperm number and velocity.

Findings

  • The stallions had high testosterone levels when they were kept near MHC-dissimilar mares and significantly lower levels when they were near MHC-similar mares.
  • The average sperm count per ejaculation was positively related to the mean testosterone levels. It was also affected by the sequence in which the mares were introduced; higher sperm numbers were recorded if MHC-dissimilar mares were presented last compared to when MHC-similar mares were presented last. However, the sperm velocity remained unaffected.

Conclusion

  • The researchers concluded that MHC-linked signals do influence testosterone secretion and semen characteristics in male horses, leading to possible adjustments in the male’s reproductive strategy based on the female’s MHC type.

Cite This Article

APA
Burger D, Dolivo G, Marti E, Sieme H, Wedekind C. (2015). Female major histocompatibility complex type affects male testosterone levels and sperm number in the horse (Equus caballus). Proc Biol Sci, 282(1807), 20150407. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.0407

Publication

Proceedings. Biological sciences
ISSN: 1471-2954
NlmUniqueID: 101245157
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 282
Issue: 1807
Pages: 20150407
PII: 20150407

Researcher Affiliations

Burger, D
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Agroscope and University of Berne, Avenches, Switzerland.
Dolivo, G
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, Agroscope and University of Berne, Avenches, Switzerland.
Marti, E
  • Department of Clinical Research, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
Sieme, H
  • Unit for Reproductive Medicine-Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Wedekind, C
  • Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland claus.wedekind@unil.ch.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horses / immunology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex / physiology
  • Male
  • Odorants
  • Smell / physiology
  • Sperm Count / veterinary
  • Sperm Motility
  • Testosterone / blood

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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