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Morphological and Hormonal Features of an Ovine and a Caprine Intersex

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Morphological and Hormonal Features of an Ovine and a Caprine Intersex Morphological and Hormonal Features of an Ovine and a Caprine Intersex W.T.K. Bosu and P.K. Basrur* ABSTRACT Mots cles: intersexue, testosterone, plasma steroid concentrations in these chimeres sanguines, free-martins animals in relation to their cytogenetic A caprine and an ovine intersex ovins, free-martins caprins. make up and histological modifica- were examined to compare their mor- tions of the reproductive system. phological and hormonal features in light of their cytogenetic make-up. INTRODUCTION Both animals, registered as females at MATERIALS AND METHODS birth, developed male-like appearance Intersexuality, a well recognized and behaviour as they approached the condition in dairy goats is an impor- INTERSEX GOAT age of sexual maturity. Plasma testos- tant cause of caprine infertility. The A polled Toggenburg kid, approxi- terone concentrations in the intersexes recorded incidence of intersexuality in mately three months of age was pres- were similar to those in adult males of dairy goats ranges from 2 to 15% ented to the Ontario Veterinary Col- the respective species. Cytogenetic (1,2,3). The condition also occurs in lege on November 28, 1979 for analyses showed male and female cells sheep, although the incidence varies reproductive system evaluation. The in the blood while cultures of solid between breeds (4). Several investiga- kid was reported to have been born tissue contained only female cells sug- tors have described the anatomy, his- cotwin to a male kid and was regis- gesting that both were blood chimeras tology and cytogenetics of intersex tered as a female at birth. The dam was similar to the bovine freemartins. goats (3,5,6,7). On the other hand, polled but the sire was horned. The sire ovine intersexes are less well docu- exhibited unilateral testicular hypo- Key words: Intersex, testosterone, mented (8,9, 10). Data on steroid secre- plasia, the left testis being a third blood chimeras, ovine freemartins, tion in intersex sheep and goat are smaller than the right. caprine freemartins. scanty although Short et al (7) and The kid had the external appearance Hammerton et al (3) have studied the of a female. On clinical examination, testosterone, androstenedione and the most striking finding was the small RESUME progesterone concentrations in the vulva and the prominent clitoris (1 cm gonadal tissues and peripheral plasma long and 0.5 cm wide) protruding Cet article rapporte rexamen de deux of a few intersex goats and Saba et al from the vulva. Mammary gland intersexues, un caprin et un ovin, qui (10) have described the plasma testoste- development was within the normal visait a comparer leurs caracteristiques rone concentrations in a masculinized range for a doeling of corresponding morphologiques et hormonales, a la freemartin ewe. age. There were no structures palpable lumiere de leur constitution cytogene- Intersex goat or sheep represents a subcutaneously in the inguinal region. tique. Ces deux animaux, enregistres loss to the producer since they are gen- The kid was purchased for further comme femelles, a la naissance, deve- erally reared to maturity and then observation, hormonal studies and lopperent une apparence et un compor- found worthless for breeding pur- karyotype analysis. tement de male, a mesure qu'ils appro- poses. Of clinical interest is the unsub- The animal was housed in the same chaient de la maturite sexuelle. La stantiated, but commonly reported, pen with a three month old doeling teneur de leur plasma en testosterone se cyclical male-like and female-like until January, 1980 when the behav- revela comparable a celle des beliers et behaviour exhibited by some of these ioural and hormonal studies com- des boucs. Des analyses cytogenetiques animals. If true, such a behavioural menced. At weekly intervals from revelerent la presence de cellules males pattern would imply an alternating January 10, 1980 to the end of March, et femelles dans leur sang, tandis que les pattern of gonadal steroid secretion. the animal was observed for periods of cultures de muscles squelettiques ne The aims of the present study 30 minutes to determine its sexual contenaient que des celiules femelles, include determination of the sexual behaviour towards the pen mate. In indice que les deux intersexues corres- behaviour patterns of an ovine and a addition, it was exposed to an estrous pondaient a des chimeres sanguines, caprine intersex and the assessment of doe, or an estrogen treated doe, and a semblables aux free-martins bovins. the temporal changes in peripheral buck of identical age, for periods of *Department of Clinical Studies (Bosu) and Department of Biomedical Sciences (Basrur), Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1. Submitted August 18, 1983. 402 Can J Comp Med 1984; 48: 402-409. 5-20 minutes. A similar examination penned near the twins for comparative the other, but included interest in was carried out daily from April I behavioural and hormonal studies dur- estrous (or estrogen treated) does evi- (towards the end of breeding season) ing the period of one month. The sex- denced by perineal nosing, foreleg and between September 18 and 22 ual behaviour of the intersex towards striking and attempts to mount. It (onset of the next breeding season). its sibling (ram) and the ewe were never achieved a mount during any of Furthermore, the animal attendants recorded daily. Blood samples were the examination periods. However, it were instructed to record any sexual collected daily from the jugular vein of was observed mounting its pen mate behaviour pattern noted on days other the ram, the intersex and the ewe and and showing tongue lapping on other than the examination days. Sexual the plasma were stored at -20°C until occasions. The intersex showed mild behaviour was recorded as male-like if needed for assay. aggression towards the normal buck the kid showed interest in the estrous The intersex sheep was euthanized and on two occasions tried to butt him. doe, attempted to mount or mounted after a month of observation and the The intersex sheep maintained or showed hostile reaction to the buck. reproductive tract was dissected out male-like appearance and behaviour The behaviour was recorded as and examined. Representative sam- during the month of study. It dis- female-like ifthe buck showed interest ples from the reproductive tract were played aggressive behaviour which in the animal or if the animal was fixed and processed for histological was more noticeable when the ewe was receptive to the buck. examination. in estrus. On several such occasions Blood samples were collected via Testosterone and progesterone con- the intersex attempted to ram the jugular vein puncture from the inter- centrations in the plasma samples of animal attendant. sex, the pen mate (female) and an age the goats and sheep were determined The peripheral plasma testosterone matched buck, for steroid assay, at using radioimmunoassay methods and progesterone concentrations in weekly intervals from January to the (I 1,12). The validation of the method the intersex goat, a peer buck and a end of March and on three consecutive for goat plasma has been described doe are presented in Table I. The days each in April and September. The (12). Small samples of skeletal muscle period of study covered the latter part blood samples, drawn prior to behav- tissue were collected in phosphate buf- of the breeding season (January to ioural examination, were centrifuged fered saline (PBS) for explant culture April) and the onset of the next breed- and the plasma was collected and and chromosome analysis (5). ing season (September). The plasma stored at -20°C until needed for assay. progesterone concentrations in the The animal was euthanized on Sep- doe showed increase and decrease tember 22, 1980 and the reproductive RESULTS reflective of the normal patterns tract was examined. Representative expected during the estrous cycle. In pieces were fixed in Bouin's solution, The Toggenburg intersex goat grew both the buck and the intersex, the processed for 6 mu paraffin sections rapidly and acquired a masculine plasma progesterone concentrations and stained in haematoxylin and eosin appearance by six months of age at were never more than I ng/ mL and for histological examination. which time a faint but characteristic there were no indications of cyclical male-like odour was detectable. From changes. INTERSEX SHEEP the age of six months until the end of Testosterone patterns in the intersex A set of ten month old Dorset cross the observation period its behaviour and buck were similar. However, the twin lambs was presented for exami- was mainly male-like. There was no buck displayed higher testosterone nation at the Ontario Veterinary Col- development of the mammary gland. concentrations in the breeding season lege on October 31, 1980. One of these The display of male-like behaviour (January and September) while in the displayed signs of an intersex. At the varied from one examination time to intersex, the concentrations remained time of examination, the intersex weighed 35 kg and had the appearance of a maturing ram. However, the TABLE I. Plasma Steroid Concentrations in a Caprine Intersex at Different Times of The Year external genitalia consisted of a small Progesterone -ng/ mL Testosterone -pg/ mL vulva, with a protruding knob-like cli- Date Female Buck Intersex Female Buck Intersex toris measuring 1.5 cm long and I cm Jan. 10 0.60 ND ND 50 ND ND wide. The udder was evident. On 17 0.40 0.40 0.60 10 3950 2610 initial examination, the inguinal Feb. 15 2.60 0.10 0.40 40 5850 3450 region revealed no palpable structures. 21 ND 0.30 0.50 10 680 4100 However, two weeks later when the 29 6.10 0.50 0.30 20 1050 5250 sheep was shorn, palpation of the Mar.
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