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Title: SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AFTER TREATMENT WITH PROSAGLANDIN-F2ALPHA IN BOARS WITH SUPPRESSED CONCENTRATIONS OF GONADAL STEROIDS.

Author
item ESTIENNE, MARK - VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC
item HARPER, ALLEN - VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC
item KNIGHT, JIM - VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC
item Barb, Claude
item RAMPACEK, GEORGE - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Submitted to: Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/7/2004
Publication Date: 11/20/2004
Citation: Estienne, M.J., Harper, A.F., Knight, J.W., Barb, C.R., Rampacek, G.B. 2004. Sexual behavior after treatment with prosaglandin-f2alpha in boars with suppressed concentrations of gonadal steroids.. Applied Animal Behavior Science. 89:53-57.

Interpretive Summary: Decreased libido in boars is associated with low circulating concentrations of testosterone, hormone necessary for male sexual behavior. Prostaglandin treatment has been used to restore libido in older boars exhibiting low sex drive. The objective of this experiment was to determine if prostaglandin treatment increases libido in boars with suppressed testosterone secretion. Prostaglandin treatment enhances sexual behavior and will be useful method for collecting and preserving semen from genetically superior older boars with low sex drive.

Technical Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that prostaglandin-F2alpha (PGF) increases libido in boars with suppressed testosterone and estradiol secretion. After semen collection at wk 0, boars received an s.c. implant containing gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) or were sham-implanted. Beginning at wk 1, GnRHa-implanted boars received i.m. treatment with 10 mg PGF (n = 5) or vehicle (n = 5) upon entering the semen collection room. Sham-implanted boars (n = 5) received i.m. vehicle. Blood was sampled and libido assessed at wk 0 and 5. The GnRHa implants suppressed serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) (P = 0.05), testosterone (P = 0.03) and estradiol (P = 0.04). The number of boars ejaculating, time from entering collection room to the first attempt to mount the artificial sow, time from entering to the start of ejaculation, and duration of ejaculation were not affected by treatment (P > 0.1). The number of false mounts (mounting artificial sow but dismounting prior to semen collection) was increased (P = 0.03) by GnRHa implants, an effect reversed (P = 0.03) by PGF. We suggest that acutely suppressing concentrations of testosterone and estradiol will not abolish libido in boars, but leads to an increase in the number of unsuccessful mounts of an artificial sow. The number of false mounts can be decreased by treatment with PGF.