Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T20:10:02.781Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Return of testicular function after vaccination of boars against GnRH: consequences on testes histology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2009

S. Rottner  and
R. Claus
S. Rottner
Affiliation:
Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Tierhaltung und Tierzüchtung, Garbenstraße 17, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
R. Claus*
Affiliation:
Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Tierhaltung und Tierzüchtung, Garbenstraße 17, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Traditionally, male pigs are surgically castrated without anaesthesia to avoid later occurrence of the sex odour of androstenone in the carcass. Active immunization against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a painless alternative which inhibits LH and thus steroidogenesis in the Leydig cells. In a preceding study we clarified the return of Leydig cell function after the last dose of antigen by measuring hormones, and found a considerable variation (10 to 24 weeks) till return of their function (testosterone ⩾ 0.5 ng/ml blood plasma). The present paper analyses histological data on testes characteristics of the same six boars at an age of 52 weeks (26 weeks after last immunization). Data were compared to another four boars which were not immunized but slaughtered at the same age. Testis weight was related to the concentration of testosterone in blood. In boars, that first returned to testicular function, testis weight even exceeded those in controls probably due to rebound phenomena. Differences in testis weight were mainly due to differences of Leydig cell content of cytoplasm, and less to the size of nuclei. Additionally, the height of seminiferous epithelium was slightly dependent on testosterone concentrations and contributed moderately to differences in testis weight. Altogether, normalization of testicular function, even after return to steroidogenesis, requires another 13 weeks.

Keywords

GnRH immunizationboarreturn of testis functionleydig cellstubuli
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 3 , Issue 9 , September 2009 , pp. 1279 - 1286
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abercrombie, M 1946. Estimation of nuclear population from microtome sections. The Anatomical Record 94, 239–246.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Allrich, RD, Christenson, RK, Ford, JJ, Zimmerman, DR 1983. Pubertal development of the boar: age-related changes in testicular morphology and in vitro production of testosterone and estradiol-17β. Biology of Reproduction 28, 902–909.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Awoniyi, CA, Chandrashekar, V, Arthur, RD, Schanbacher, BD, Amador, AG, Falvo, RE 1988a. Pituitary and Leydig cell function in boars actively immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 84, 295–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Awoniyi, CA, Chandrashekar, V, Arthur, RD, Schanbacher, BD, Amador, AG, Falvo, RE 1988b. Changes in testicular morphology in boars actively immunized against gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone. Journal of Andrology 9, 160–171.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berndtson, WE, Igboeli, G, Parker, WG 1987. The numbers of Sertoli cells in mature Holstein bulls and their relationship to quantitative aspects of spermatogenesis. Biology of Reproduction 37, 60–67.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bonneau, M, Dufour, R, Chouvet, C, Roulet, C, Meadus, W, Squires, EJ 1994. The effects of immunization against luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone on performance, sexual development, and levels of boar taint-related compounds in intact male pigs. Journal of Animal Science 72, 14–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Christensen, AK 1975. Leydig cells. In Handbook of physiology. Section 7: Endocrinology vol. V. Male Reproductive System (ed. DW Hamilton and RO Greep), pp. 57–94. American Physiological Society, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Chubb, C 1992. Genes regulating testis size. Biology of Reproduction 47, 29–36.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Claus, R 1976. Messung des Ebergeruchsstoffes im Fett von Schweinen mittels eines Radioimmunotests. 2. Mitteilung: Zeitlicher Verlauf des Geruchsdepotabbaues nach der Kastration. Zeitschrift für Tierzüchtung und Züchtungsbiologie 93, 38–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Claus, R, Hoffmann, B 1980. Oestrogens, compared to other steroids of testicular origin, in blood plasma of boars. Acta Endocrinologica 94, 404–411.Google ScholarPubMed
Claus, R, Bingel, A, Hofäcker, S, Weiler, U 1990. Twenty-four hour profiles of growth hormone (GH) concentrations in mature female and entire male domestic pigs in comparison to mature wild boars (Sus scrofa L.). Livestock Production Science 25, 247–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Claus, R, Lacorn, M, Danowski, K, Pearce, MC, Bauer, A 2007. Short-term endocrine and metabolic reactions before and after second immunization against GnRH in boars. Vaccine 25, 4689–4696.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Claus, R, Rottner, S, Rueckert, C 2008. Individual return to Leydig cell function after GnRH-immunization of boars. Vaccine 26, 4571–4578.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Claus, R, Weiler, U, Herzog, A 1994. Physiological aspects of androstenone and skatole formation in the boar: a review with experimental data. Meat Science 38, 289–305.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garcia-Gil, N, Pinart, E, Sancho, S, Badia, E, Bassols, J, Kadar, E, Briz, M, Bonet, S 2002. The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in Landrace boars. Animal Reproduction Science 73, 211–225.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Godfrey, SI, Walkden-Brown, SW, Martin, GB, Speijers, EJ 1996. Immunisation of goat bucks against GnRH to prevent seasonal reproductive and agonistic behaviour. Animal Reproduction Science 44, 41–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haeussler, S, Wagner, A, Welter, H, Claus, R 2007. Changes of testicular aromatase expression during fetal development in male pigs (Sus scrofa). Reproduction 133, 323–330.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hilbe, M, Jaros, P, Ehrensperger, F, Zlinszky, K, Janett, F, Hässig, M, Thun, R 2006. Histomorphological and immunohistochemical findings in testes, bulbourethral glands and brain of immunologically castrated male piglets. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 148, 599–608.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Joshi, HS, Raeside, JI 1973. Synergistic effects of testosterone and oestrogens on accessory sex glands and sexual behaviour of the boar. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 33, 411–423.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ladd, A, Tsong, Y-Y, Walfield, AM, Thau, RB 1994. Development of an antifertility vaccine for pets based on active immunization against luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Biology of Reproduction 51, 1076–1083.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lekhkota, O, Brehm, R, Claus, R, Wagner, A, Bohle, RM, Bergmann, M 2006. Cellular localization of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER α) and -beta (ER β) mRNA in the boar testis. Histochemistry and Cell Biology 125, 259–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lunstra, DD, Wise, TH, Ford, JJ 2003. Sertoli cells in the boar testis: changes during development and compensatory hypertrophy after hemicastration at different ages. Biology of Reproduction 68, 140–150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McCoard, SA, Lunstra, DD, Wise, TH, Ford, JJ 2001. Specific staining of Sertoli cell nuclei and evaluation of Sertoli cell number and proliferative activity in Meishan and White Composite boars during neonatal period. Biology of Reproduction 64, 689–695.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meloen, RH, Turkstra, JA, Lankhof, H, Puijk, WC, Schaaper, WM, Dijkstra, G, Wensing, CJG, Oonk, RB 1994. Efficient immunocastration of male piglets by immunoneutralization of GnRH using a new GnRH-like peptide. Vaccine 12, 741–746.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mendis-Handagama, CSML, Ariyaratne, SHB 2001. Differentiation of the adult Leydig cell population in the postnatal testis. Biology of Reproduction 65, 660–671.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mentschel, J, Leiser, R, Mülling, C, Pfarrer, C, Claus, R 2001. Butyric acid stimulates rumen mucosa development in the calf mainly by a reduction of apoptosis. Archives of Animal Nutrition 55, 85–102.Google ScholarPubMed
Metz, C, Claus, R 2003. Active immunization of boars against GnRH does not affect growth hormone but lowers IGF-1 in plasma. Livestock Production Science 81, 129–137.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Metz, C, Hohl, K, Waidelich, S, Drochner, W, Claus, R 2002. Active immunization of boars against GnRH at an early age: consequences for testicular function, boar taint accumulation and N-retention. Livestock Production Science 74, 147–157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nieschlag, E 1975. Immunization with hormones in reproduction research. North Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Padmanabhan, V, McNeilly, AS 2001. Is there an FSH-releasing factor? Reproduction 121, 21–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peyrat, JP, Meusy-Dessolle, N, Garnier, J 1981. Changes in Leydig cells and luteinizing hormone receptors in porcine testis during postnatal development. Endocrinology 108, 625–631.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robertson, IS, Fraser, HM, Innes, GM, Jones, AS 1982. Effect of immunological castration on sexual and production characteristics in male cattle. The Veterinary Record 111, 529–531.Google ScholarPubMed
Robic, A, Larzul, C, Bonneau, M 2008. Genetic and metabolic aspects of androstenone and skatole deposition in pig adipose tissue: a review. Genetics, Selection, Evolution 40, 129–143.Google ScholarPubMed
Romeis, B 1989. Mikroskopische Technik (ed. P Böck), 17th edition, chapter 5, pp. 113–133. Urban und Schwarzenberg, Munich, Germany.Google Scholar
Schanbacher, BD, Pratt, BR 1985. Response of a cryptorchid stallion to vaccination against luteinising hormone-releasing hormone. The Veterinary Record 116, 74–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swierstra, EE 1968. Cytology and duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium of the boar; duration of spermatozoan transit through the epididymis. The Anatomical Record 161, 171–186.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wagner, A, Claus, R 2004. Involvement of glucocorticoids in testicular involution after active immunization in boars against GnRH. Reproduction 127, 275–283.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wagner, A, Claus, R 2008. Aromatase and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 localisation in the testes of pigs from birth to puberty linked to changes of hormone pattern and testicular morphology. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 20, 505–512.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wagner, A, Claus, R 2009. The effects of postnatal FSH substitution on Sertoli cell number and the sperm production capacity of the adult boar. Animal Reproduction Science 110, 269–282. doi:10.1016/j. anireprosci.2008.01.017.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wagner, A, Messe, N, Bergmann, M, Lekhkota, O, Claus, R 2006. Effects of estradiol infusion in GnRH immunized boars on spermatogenesis. Journal of Andrology 27, 880–889.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Walstra, P 1974. Fattening of young boars: quantification of negative and positive aspects. Livestock Production Science 1, 187–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Willeke, H, Claus, R, Pircher, F, Alsing, A 1980. A selection experiment against 5α-androst-16-en-3-one, the boar taint steroid, in adipose tissue of boars. Zeitschrift für Tierzüchtung und Züchtungsbiologie 97, 86–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zamaratskaia, G, Rydhmer, L, Andersson, HK, Chen, G, Lowagie, S, Andersson, K, Lundstroem, K 2008. Long-term effect of vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing hormone, using Improvac™, on hormonal profile and behaviour of male pigs. Animal Reproduction Science 108, 37–48. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.07.001.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed