FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Animal reproduction science2008; 107(3-4); 179-196; doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.05.004

Regulation of testicular function in the stallion: an intricate network of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine systems.

Abstract: It is well established in many mammalian species, including the horse that normal testicular function is dependent upon a functional hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis, which involves classic feedback mechanisms. The major HPT hormones involved in the stallion are gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), estrogens (Es) and inhibin (INH). Although prolactin (PRL) fluctuates with season in the stallion and both PRL and thyroid hormone (TH) affect reproduction in other male species, their effects on stallion reproduction have not been elucidated. Growth hormone (GH) in the stallion may be involved in sperm motility, production and secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and LH-induced testosterone release. The action of these hormones and the products involved for normal spermatogenesis require cell to cell communication within the testis. The somatic cell types, Leydig, Sertoli and peritubular myoid cells, all support germ cell development, maturation and release into the seminiferous tubule lumen. The cell to cell crosstalk involves an intricate network of paracrine-autocrine systems that support the endocrine input to modulate cell function. In other male species, researchers have demonstrated the reproductive effects of such paracrine-autocrine factors as IGF-1, transferrin, androgens, estrogens, inhibin, insulin like peptide 3 (INSL3), beta-endorphin and oxytocin. The specific nature and relative contribution of these various factors on testicular function in fertile and subfertile stallions are under investigation. This review summarizes current information regarding the nature of the multiple endocrine-paracrine-autocrine systems that may be necessary for normal testicular function in the stallion.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2008-05-09 PubMed ID: 18571346DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.05.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Review

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.

This research article explores the complex mechanisms involved in regulating testicular function in stallions — specifically, the interactions of different hormones, cells, and systems. It delves into the primary hormones involved and their impacts, scrutinizes the role of prolactin and thyroid hormones that are yet to be defined clearly, and investigates the potential influence of growth hormone. The study also underlines the need for efficient inter-cellular communication for proper spermatogenesis and examines how various factors may contribute to overall testicular function.

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular Axis

  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis is a crucial biological system that guides normal testicular function in mammals, including horses. It functions through a feedback mechanism.
  • Main hormones guiding this process in stallions are the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), estrogens (Es), and inhibin (INH).

Potential Role of Prolactin (PRL) and Thyroid Hormone (TH)

  • While prolactin levels in stallions change with seasons and thyroid hormones affect reproduction in other male species, the exact role they play in stallion reproduction remains a mystery.
  • The research article aims to delve into the potential effects of these hormones on stallion reproductive processes.

Significance of Growth Hormone (GH)

  • Growth hormone in stallions might play a critical role in sperm motility, production and secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and LH-induced testosterone release.
  • The study aims to explore the action and implications of these hormones on normal spermatogenesis.

Cell To Cell Interaction and Paracrine-Autocrine Systems

  • The different cells involved in the testis, namely Leydig, Sertoli, and peritubular myoid cells, play a vital role in germ cell development, maturation and release into the seminiferous tubule lumen.
  • The study underscores that cell to cell communication within the testis is crucial and depends on a complex network of paracrine-autocrine systems that work in tandem with the endocrine input to control cell function.
  • A wide range of factors, such as IGF-1, transferrin, androgens, estrogens, inhibin, insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), beta-endorphin and oxytocin, have been found to be involved in this communication and support reproductive processes in male species.

Testicular Function in Fertile and Subfertile Stallions

  • The study also investigates how the interaction of various factors could affect testicular function in both fertile and subfertile stallions.
  • The researchers aim is to understand the relative contribution of these different factors to testicular function.

Cite This Article

APA
Roser JF. (2008). Regulation of testicular function in the stallion: an intricate network of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine systems. Anim Reprod Sci, 107(3-4), 179-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.05.004

Publication

Animal reproduction science
ISSN: 0378-4320
NlmUniqueID: 7807205
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 107
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 179-196

Researcher Affiliations

Roser, Janet F
  • Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States. jfroser@ucdavis.edu

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Autocrine Communication / physiology
  • Endocrine System / physiology
  • Fertility / physiology
  • Homeostasis / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Paracrine Communication / physiology
  • Testis / physiology

Citations

This article has been cited 19 times.
  1. Shakeel M, Yoon M. Functions of somatic cells for spermatogenesis in stallions. J Anim Sci Technol 2022 Jul;64(4):654-670.
    doi: 10.5187/jast.2022.e57pubmed: 35969700google scholar: lookup
  2. Otsuka K, Matsubara S, Shiraishi A, Takei N, Satoh Y, Terao M, Takada S, Kotani T, Satake H, Kimura AP. A Testis-Specific Long Noncoding RNA, Start, Is a Regulator of Steroidogenesis in Mouse Leydig Cells. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021;12:665874.
    doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.665874pubmed: 33897623google scholar: lookup
  3. Stucker S, De Angelis J, Kusumbe AP. Heterogeneity and Dynamics of Vasculature in the Endocrine System During Aging and Disease. Front Physiol 2021;12:624928.
    doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.624928pubmed: 33767633google scholar: lookup
  4. Nasimi M, Jorsaraei SGA, Fattahi E, Tabari MG, Neyshaburi EZ. SCF Improves In Vitro Differentiation of SSCs Through Transcriptionally Up-regulating PRTM1, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 Genes. Reprod Sci 2021 Apr;28(4):963-972.
    doi: 10.1007/s43032-020-00326-zpubmed: 33492648google scholar: lookup
  5. El Zawam A, Tibary A, Patino C. Basal Levels and hCG Responses of Serum Testosterone and Estrogen in Male Alpacas. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:595856.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.595856pubmed: 33263018google scholar: lookup
  6. Tse LH, Wong YH. GPCRs in Autocrine and Paracrine Regulations. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019;10:428.
    doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00428pubmed: 31354618google scholar: lookup
  7. Rachdaoui N, Sarkar DK. Pathophysiology of the Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Endocrine System. Alcohol Res 2017;38(2):255-276.
    pubmed: 28988577
  8. Devesa J, Almengló C, Devesa P. Multiple Effects of Growth Hormone in the Body: Is it Really the Hormone for Growth?. Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes 2016;9:47-71.
    doi: 10.4137/CMED.S38201pubmed: 27773998google scholar: lookup
  9. Song CJ, Yang ZJ, Tang QF, Chen ZH. Effects of sericin on the testicular growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. Int J Clin Exp Med 2015;8(7):10411-9.
    pubmed: 26379831
  10. Piotrowska K, Sluczanowska-Glabowska S, Kucia M, Bartke A, Laszczynska M, Ratajczak MZ. Histological changes of testes in growth hormone transgenic mice with high plasma level of GH and insulin-like growth factor-1. Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2015;53(3):249-58.
    doi: 10.5603/fhc.a2015.0024pubmed: 26348370google scholar: lookup
  11. Hull KL, Harvey S. Growth hormone and reproduction: a review of endocrine and autocrine/paracrine interactions. Int J Endocrinol 2014;2014:234014.
    doi: 10.1155/2014/234014pubmed: 25580121google scholar: lookup
  12. Yoon M, Jiang J, Chung KH, Roser JF. Immunolocalization of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its receptors (IGF-IR) in the equine epididymis. J Reprod Dev 2015;61(1):30-4.
    doi: 10.1262/jrd.2014-097pubmed: 25311540google scholar: lookup
  13. Dhakal P, Tsunoda N, Nakai R, Kitaura T, Harada T, Ito M, Nagaoka K, Toishi Y, Taniyama H, Gen W, Taya K. Annual Changes in Day-length, Temperature, and Circulating Reproductive Hormones in Thoroughbred Stallions and Geldings. J Equine Sci 2011;22(2):29-36.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.22.29pubmed: 24833985google scholar: lookup
  14. Asadi MH, Javanmardi S, Movahedin M. Derivation of ES-like cell from neonatal mouse testis cells in autologous sertoli cells co-culture system. Iran J Reprod Med 2014 Jan;12(1):37-46.
    pubmed: 24799860
  15. Rachdaoui N, Sarkar DK. Effects of alcohol on the endocrine system. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2013 Sep;42(3):593-615.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2013.05.008pubmed: 24011889google scholar: lookup
  16. Donnelly P, Tan K, Winch D. Inhibin B levels in hypothyroid males. Thyroid 2013 Nov;23(11):1379-82.
    doi: 10.1089/thy.2012.0370pubmed: 23692058google scholar: lookup
  17. Fayrer-Hosken R, Stanley A, Hill N, Heusner G, Christian M, De La Fuente R, Baumann C, Jones L. Effect of feeding fescue seed containing ergot alkaloid toxins on stallion spermatogenesis and sperm cells. Reprod Domest Anim 2012 Dec;47(6):1017-26.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02008.xpubmed: 22524585google scholar: lookup
  18. Harvey S. Extrapituitary growth hormone. Endocrine 2010 Dec;38(3):335-59.
    doi: 10.1007/s12020-010-9403-8pubmed: 20972718google scholar: lookup
  19. Andersen ML, Lee KS, Guindalini C, Leite WA, Bignotto M, Tufik S. Altered sleep patterns and physiologic characteristics in spontaneous dwarf rats. Comp Med 2009 Aug;59(4):344-9.
    pubmed: 19712574
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.