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Biology of reproduction1991; 45(3); 404-410; doi: 10.1095/biolreprod45.3.404

Season but not age affects Sertoli cell number in adult stallions.

Abstract: To evaluate the effect of age and season on Sertoli cell number per paired testes, ratio of germ cells per Sertoli cell, and daily sperm production, testes were obtained from 184 adult (4-20 yr) stallions at slaughter throughout one year. Numbers of Sertoli cells or germ cells were derived from nuclear volume density, volume of individual nuclei, and parenchymal volume. Germ cell to Sertoli cell ratios were calculated from cell numbers. Regression analysis was used to detect age-related differences in the breeding season (May-Jul) or throughout the year. A two-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate time periods (Nov-Jan, Feb-Apr, May-Jul, and Aug-Oct) and age groups (4-5.5, 6-12.5, or 13-20 yr). Paired parenchymal weight and daily sperm production per horse increased significantly with age. Neither regression nor analysis of variance revealed an effect of age on Sertoli cell number. While season contributed (p less than 0.01) to variation in Sertoli cell number per horse, there was no (p greater than 0.05) age x season interaction or age effect on Sertoli cell number. In testes obtained from adult stallions, age had no effect on the number of Sertoli cells per horse, the ratio of maturation-phase spermatids to Sertoli cells, or the ratio of all stage VIII germ cells to Sertoli cells. Given no age effect within a given season on Sertoli cell number per horse, the number of Sertoli cells in the recrudesced testis of the breeding season probably is not significantly different for a given stallion between 4 and 20 yr of age.
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Publication Date: 1991-09-01 PubMed ID: 1782288DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod45.3.404Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • P.H.S.

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 explores how age and season affect Sertoli cell count, germ cell to Sertoli cell ratios, and daily sperm production in stallions. The study finds that, while season does have a significant impact on Sertoli cell count, age does not affect the number of these cells.

Study Methodology

  • This research analyzed testesfrom 184 adult stallions aged between 4-20 years at the time of slaughter. The samples were taken over the course of a year.
  • The numbers of both Sertoli and germ cells were determined via the density of the cells’ nuclei, the volume of individual nuclei, and the volume of the parenchyma.
  • Cell ratios were calculated based on the aforementioned cell numbers.
  • Regression Analysis was conducted to identify if there were any age-related differences in the breeding season (May – July) or over the course of the entire year.
  • A two-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate different time periods and age groups and their effects on the cell counts and ratios.

Key Findings

  • The weight of the paired parenchyma and daily sperm production per horse increased significantly with the age of the stallion.
  • No effect of age on Sertoli cell count was found in either the regression or variance analyses.
  • Season was found to significantly impact the number of Sertoli cells per horse, whereas age did not impact the number of Sertoli cells.
  • No significant interaction was found between the age of the horse and the season or the age effect on the cell count.
  • The age of the stallions had no influence on the number of Sertoli cells per horse, the ratio of spermatids in the maturation phase to the count of Sertoli cells, or the ratio of all stage VIII germ cells to the count of Sertoli cells.

In conclusion, the number of Sertoli cells in a testis that has recrudesced in the breeding season is likely not significantly different for a given stallion, regardless of whether the stallion’s age is 4 or 20 years.

Cite This Article

APA
Johnson L, Varner DD, Tatum ME, Scrutchfield WL. (1991). Season but not age affects Sertoli cell number in adult stallions. Biol Reprod, 45(3), 404-410. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod45.3.404

Publication

Biology of reproduction
ISSN: 0006-3363
NlmUniqueID: 0207224
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 3
Pages: 404-410

Researcher Affiliations

Johnson, L
  • Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University College Station 77843-4458.
Varner, D D
    Tatum, M E
      Scrutchfield, W L

        MeSH Terms

        • Aging / physiology
        • Animals
        • Cell Count
        • Horses / anatomy & histology
        • Male
        • Regression Analysis
        • Seasons
        • Sertoli Cells / cytology
        • Spermatids / cytology

        Grant Funding

        • HD16773 / NICHD NIH HHS

        Citations

        This article has been cited 6 times.
        1. Rebourcet D, Darbey A, Monteiro A, Soffientini U, Tsai YT, Handel I, Pitetti JL, Nef S, Smith LB, O'Shaughnessy PJ. Sertoli Cell Number Defines and Predicts Germ and Leydig Cell Population Sizes in the Adult Mouse Testis. Endocrinology 2017 Sep 1;158(9):2955-2969.
          doi: 10.1210/en.2017-00196pubmed: 28911170google scholar: lookup
        2. Figueiredo AF, França LR, Hess RA, Costa GM. Sertoli cells are capable of proliferation into adulthood in the transition region between the seminiferous tubules and the rete testis in Wistar rats. Cell Cycle 2016 Sep 16;15(18):2486-96.
          doi: 10.1080/15384101.2016.1207835pubmed: 27420022google scholar: lookup
        3. Ahmed EA, Vélaz E, Rosemann M, Gilbertz KP, Scherthan H. DNA repair kinetics in SCID mice Sertoli cells and DNA-PKcs-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Chromosoma 2017 Mar;126(2):287-298.
          doi: 10.1007/s00412-016-0590-9pubmed: 27136939google scholar: lookup
        4. Rebourcet D, O'Shaughnessy PJ, Monteiro A, Milne L, Cruickshanks L, Jeffrey N, Guillou F, Freeman TC, Mitchell RT, Smith LB. Sertoli cells maintain Leydig cell number and peritubular myoid cell activity in the adult mouse testis. PLoS One 2014;9(8):e105687.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105687pubmed: 25144714google scholar: lookup
        5. 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
        6. Su J, Yang Y, Wang D, Su H, Zhao F, Zhang C, Zhang M, Li X, He T, Li X, Tian Y, Song B, Chen C, Song Y, Cao G. A dynamic transcriptional cell atlas of testes development after birth in Hu sheep. BMC Biol 2025 Mar 12;23(1):78.
          doi: 10.1186/s12915-025-02186-ypubmed: 40075363google scholar: lookup
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