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Influence of exogenous testosterone on sperm production, seminal quality and libido of stallions.
Abstract: The effect of exogenous testosterone on sperm production, seminal quality and libido was studied in 24 stallions. Based on pretreatment data, a stallion was assigned to 1 of 3 groups each containing 8 animals. One member of each group received 0 (Group 1), 50 (Group 2), or 200 micrograms (Group 3) testosterone propionate per kg body weight every 2 days for 88 days. The lower dose of testosterone had no significant effect on most of the parameters studied: the higher dose depressed total scrotal width at Day 90 post-treatment (P less than 0.01), total spermatozoa ejaculated between Days 60 and 90 (P less than 0.01) and 96 progressively motile spermatozoa between Days 60 and 90 (P less than 0.10). One half of the stallions from each treatment were castrated on Day 90. In the operated stallions, the mean number of spermatids per g testicular parenchyma in the controls (Group 1) was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than that in Group 3 whereas the difference between the number of spermatids/testis in the same stallions of these two groups was significant only at P less than 0.1. Testosterone propionate treatment did not influence time to erection, interval from first mount to ejaculation or number of mounts per ejaculation. The treatment of normal, intact stallions with testosterone propionate did not enhance libido and caused a severe depression of reproductive capacity.
Publication Date: 1979-01-01 PubMed ID: 289788 The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores the impact of external testosterone on sperm production, quality of semen, and sexual drive in stallions.
Objective and Method of Study
- This study was primarily aimed at understanding the role and influence of external or exogenous testosterone on sperm production, seminal quality, and libido (sexual drive) in stallions.
- 24 stallions were included in the study and, after initial data was taken, they were divided into three groups with 8 members each.
- One member from each group was administered different doses of testosterone propionate according to body weight: 0 (Group 1), 50 (Group 2), or 200 micrograms (Group 3) every 2 days for 88 days.
Effects of Exogenous Testosterone
- The study found out that the lower dose of testosterone had no significant effect on many of the parameters being studied.
- However, a higher dose of testosterone resulted in a decrease in total scrotal width at Day 90 post-treatment, total sperm ejaculated between Days 60 and 90, and progressively motile spermatozoa between Days 60 and 90.
- Half of the stallions from each treatment group were castrated on Day 90 to further assess the impact of the treatment.
Impact on Reproductive Capacity & Libido
- In the operated stallions, the average number of spermatids (an intermediate stage in the production of sperm) per g testicular parenchyma (sperm-forming tissue) in the controls was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 3. This suggests that the high-dose testosterone group had impaired sperm production.
- The treatment did not have an effect on the time to erection, the period from the first mount to ejaculation or the number of mounts per ejaculation.
- Most importantly, the treatment with testosterone propionate was found to not enhance libido but instead, cause a significant decrease in reproductive capacity.
This study contributes to our understanding of the potential downside of administering exogenous testosterone to stallions, namely the suppression of sperm production and a decrease in overall reproductive capacity, without any enhancement in sexual desire or performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Berndtson WE, Hoyer JH, Squires EL, Pickett BW.
(1979).
Influence of exogenous testosterone on sperm production, seminal quality and libido of stallions.
J Reprod Fertil Suppl(27), 19-23.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / physiology
- Libido / drug effects
- Male
- Organ Size / drug effects
- Scrotum / anatomy & histology
- Semen / physiology
- Seminiferous Tubules / cytology
- Sexual Behavior, Animal / drug effects
- Spermatids / cytology
- Spermatocytes / cytology
- Spermatogenesis / drug effects
- Testosterone / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Toishi Y, Tsunoda N, Nagata SI, Kirisawa R, Nagaoka K, Watanabe G, Yanagawa Y, Katagiri S, Taya K. Evaluation of the chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay system for the measurement of testosterone in the serum and whole blood of stallions. J Reprod Dev 2018 Feb 27;64(1):41-47.
- Koskinen E, Andersson M, Katila T. Effect of 19-norandrostenololylaurate on testicular growth in colts. Acta Vet Scand 1997;38(1):51-7.
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