Influence of long-term treatment with equine somatotropin (EquiGen) on gonadal function in stallions with poor semen quality.
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the spermatogenic and Leydig cell activity in stallions with impaired semen quality after treatment with equine somatotropin. Experiments were performed using 18 adult clinically healthy stallions with poor semen quality which did not pass breeding soundness evaluation. The animals were randomly divided into a treatment (n = 9) and a control (n = 9) group. Over a period of 90 days, nine stallions received a daily intramuscular injection of 10 mg recombinant equine somatotropin (EquiGen, BresaGen Limited, Adelaide, Australia) and 9 control animals were injected with the same amount of physiological saline solution. During and until 2 months after treatment, semen characteristics and daily sperm output as well as plasma testosterone concentrations were determined monthly in all stallions. In addition, testosterone concentration measurement after stimulation with hCG was performed in all animals immediately before and at the end of the treatment period as well as 2 months later. Our results demonstrate that equine somatotropin (EquiGen) given daily in a dose of 10 mg per animal during 90 days had no significant effect neither on plasma testosterone concentrations and hCG-induced testosterone release nor on semen quality parameters in adult stallions with poor semen characteristics.
Publication Date: 2008-05-21 PubMed ID: 18488716DOI: 10.1024/0036-7281.150.4.157Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores the effects of long-term treatment with equine somatotropin on stallions with poor semen quality. It finds that the somatotropin had no significant impact on influential aspects such as plasma testosterone concentrations or semen quality parameters.
Research Objectives and Methodologies
- The study aimed to ascertain whether the administration of equine somatotropin would lead to improvements in spermatogenic and Leydig cell activity in stallions with lower than average semen quality.
- A total of 18 adult stallions, all with poor semen quality, were selected and split into two groups: the control group and the treatment group, each group consisting of 9 stallions.
- Over a period of 90 days, the treatment group received a daily injection of 10mg of recombinant equine somatotropin, while the control group were injected with physiological saline solution.
Observations and Measurement Approaches
- During the treatment period and for two months afterwards, the researchers monitored several parameters in all stallions: semen characteristics, daily sperm output, and plasma testosterone concentrations. These measurements were taken monthly.
- All animals underwent a testosterone concentration test following hCG stimulation before and after the treatment period and two months post-treatment.
Study Findings
- The results from this study showed that equine somatotropin did not significantly influence plasma testosterone concentrations or hCG-induced testosterone release.
- Furthermore, the treatment had no significant effect on improving the quality parameters of semen in the stallions experiencing poor semen quality.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that a 90-day treatment period with 10mg daily doses of equine somatotropin did not significantly improve the semen characteristics in adult stallions with poor semen quality.
- This study suggests that equine somatotropin might not be a viable treatment option for improving semen quality in stallions.
Cite This Article
APA
De Botton D, Janett F, Burger D, Imboden I, Kähn W, Thun R.
(2008).
Influence of long-term treatment with equine somatotropin (EquiGen) on gonadal function in stallions with poor semen quality.
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd, 150(4), 157-165.
https://doi.org/10.1024/0036-7281.150.4.157 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- National Stud, Avenches, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Growth Hormone / adverse effects
- Growth Hormone / pharmacology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Random Allocation
- Seasons
- Semen / drug effects
- Semen / physiology
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa / drug effects
- Spermatozoa / physiology
- Testosterone / blood
Citations
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