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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #110213
Title: RELATIONSHIP OF CIRCULATING FSH LEVELS WITH TESTICULAR WEIGHT, FERRITIN ANDIRON CONCENTRATIONS IN BOARS HEMICASTRATED AT 1, 10, 56 OR 112 DAYS OF AGE

Author
item Wise, Thomas
item Lunstra, Donald
item Ford, Johny

Submitted to: Biology of Reproduction Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2000
Publication Date: 6/20/2000
Citation: Wise, T.H., Lunstra, D.D., Ford, J.J. 2000. Relationship of circulating FSH levels with testicular weight, ferritin andiron concentrations in boars hemicastrated at 1, 10, 56 or 112 days of age [abstract]. Biology of Reproduction. 62 (Supplement 1):238-239. (Abstract #334)

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Increased FSH concentrations in postpubertal boars are associated with decreased testicular weights. In conjunction with declines in testicular weights are changes in parenchymal color of the testis. Large testis (300- 500 g) are white to pink while small testis (50-100 g) are dark red to maroon in color. Unilateral castration also results in prolonged elevation of FSH concentrations; thus the hypothesis tested was: do elevated FSH concentrations after unilateral castration increase the iron content and darken the color of the remaining testis taken out at 220 days of age. Boars (1/2 Meishan:1/2 White composite) were unilaterally castrated at 1 (n=27), 10 (n=25), 56 (n=25), or 112 (n=18) days of age to compare testicular changes with intact control boars (n=36). Boars were blood sampled through development to compare changes in FSH and LH with testicular development. The biochemical nature of color was identified as increases in ferritin and iron concentrations as testicular weight decreases (p<.01). Circulating FSH concentrations were inversely related to testis weight (p<.01) but positively related to iron and ferritin levels within the testis (p<.01). Independent of age at hemicastration, plasma LH concentrations were inversely related to testicular weight (p<.05). Increased numbers of boars with elevated FSH concentrations from hemicastration did have darker testis, particularly in boars with large testis (>300 g, day 1 castrates; p<.01). The increases in ferritin and iron concentrations within the testis seem to be associated with elevated FSH and are highest in small testis, but are not restricted to small testis (<150 g) if FSH concentration are increased.