Plasma Concentrations of Testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone
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PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF TESTOSTERONE, LUTEINIZING HORMONE, AND ESTRONE SULFATE IN STALLIONS FOLLOWING HEMICASTRATION A Thesis by RAUL VALDEZ Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Chair of Committee, Clay A. Cavinder Committee Members, Charles C. Love Martha M. Vogelsang Head of Department, H. Russell Cross December 2013 Major Subject: Animal Science Copyright 2013 Raul Valdez ABSTRACT Hemicastration is a veterinary surgical procedure in stallions and may be needed for removal of a diseased testicle. The effects of hemicastration on the neuroendocrine system and the hormonal response of the remaining testicle are unclear. In this study, blood plasma concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and estrone sulfate were assessed following hemicastration. Miniature stallions (n=8) were used in this study and blood was drawn 7 d prior to hemicastration, and 12 h, 48 h, 14 d, 30 d, and 90 d post hemicastration. Blood samples from all stallions were drawn every 15 min (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 min) for 1 h each sampling period. Plasma was analyzed by RIA for concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and estrone sulfate. Compared to pre-surgerical concentrations, plasma luteinizing hormone at 12 h, 48 h, 14 d and 60 d were greater (P < 0.05). Compared to 12 h, plasma testosterone values at 48 h, 14 d, and 60 d were higher (P < 0.05). Compared to pre-hemicastration values, plasma concentrations of estrone sulfate were lower (P < 0.05) at all time periods, but tended to increase up to 60 d. After 30 d, stallions were housed together rather than individually creating a harem group. Luteinizing hormone and testosterone values increased dramatically compared to previous time periods following the housing modification. These results provide insight to better understand the hormonal profiles and compensatory response of the remaining testicle following hemicastration. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my appreciation to the chair of my committee, Dr. Clay Cavinder, for the countless opportunities he has given me throughout my time as a graduate student. Dr. Cavinder, from the day you accepted me into graduate school, my life has not been the same. I respect and admire the professor, coach, and person that you are and I am privileged to work alongside you. What I have learned from you in the classroom is substantial, however, it does not compare to what you have taught me at the barn. Thanks for your friendship. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Martha Vogelsang and Dr. Charles Love, for their unwavering support and guidance. Dr. Vogelsang and Dr. Love, your patience and willingness to help me during any situation have not gone unnoticed. Also, a big thanks to Dr. Dennis Sigler for the knowledge he has taught me and for the trust he has instilled in me coaching the TAMU Stock Horse Team. Jennifer Rosenberg, Caitlin Vonderohe, Stephanie Valasek, Andrea Hanson, Brittney Dodson, and Amy Heartfield, not only have you been my fellow graduate students, you have also been my unforgettable friends. Thank you for all the long hours you put in while helping me during my project. I value each one of you. Finally, I dedicate this project, as well as the work that I do to my family. Their support and inspiration has shaped me into the person that I am today. The Lord has blessed me and continues to guide me through them. Mom, Dad, and Marcelo, I cannot describe how much you mean to me or how much I love you. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1 CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................... 3 Hemicastration ........................................................................... 3 Testosterone ............................................................................... 5 Luteinizing Hormone ................................................................. 8 Estrone Sulfate ........................................................................... 11 CHAPTER III MATERIALS AND METHODS ................................................... 14 Stallions, Housing, and Diets ..................................................... 14 Blood Sampling .......................................................................... 14 Plasma Processing ...................................................................... 15 Radioimmunoassay (RIA) Procedures ....................................... 15 Semen Collection and Analysis .................................................. 17 Statistical Analysis ..................................................................... 18 CHAPTER IV RESULTS ....................................................................................... 19 Mean Hormone Concentrations ................................................. 19 Hormonal Response to Hemicastration ...................................... 22 Testosterone ........................................................................... 22 Luteinizing Hormone ............................................................. 24 Estrone Sulfate ....................................................................... 25 iv Page CHAPTER V DISCUSSION ................................................................................ 26 Testosterone .............................................................................. 27 Luteinizing Hormone ................................................................ 29 Estrone Sulfate .......................................................................... 31 CHAPTER VI CONCLUSION .............................................................................. 34 LITERATURE CITED ............................................................................................. 36 APPENDIX A ........................................................................................................... 45 APPENDIX B ........................................................................................................... 46 APPENDIX C ........................................................................................................... 47 v LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 1 Mean (± SE) plasma testosterone concentrations (ng/mL) 7 d before and 12 h, 48 h, 14 d, 30 d, 90 d post hemicastration ......................................... 23 2 Mean (± SE) plasma LH concentrations (ng/mL) 7 d before and 12 h, 48 h, 14 d, 30 d, 90 d post hemicastration ........................................................... 24 3 Mean (± SE) plasma estrone sulfate concentrations (ng/mL) 7 d before and 12 h, 48 h, 14 d, 30 d, 90 d post hemicastration .................................. 25 vi LIST OF TABLES TABLE Page 1 Mean (± SE) plasma testosterone (ng/mL) concentrations for individual stallions before (-7 d) and after (12 h, 48 h, 14 d, 30 d, 90 d) hemicastration ............................................................................................ 20 2 Mean (± SE) plasma LH (ng/mL) concentrations for individual stallions before (-7 d) and after (12 h, 48 h, 14 d, 30 d, 90 d) hemicastration ......... 20 3 Mean (± SE) plasma estrone sulfate (ng/mL) concentrations for individual stallions before (-7 d) and after (12 h, 48 h, 14 d, 30 d, 90 d) hemicastration. ........................................................................................... 21 4 Mean (± SE) plasma testosterone, LH, and estrone sulfate (ng/mL) concentrations before (-7 d) and after (12 h, 48 h, 14 d, 30 d, 90 d) hemicastration ............................................................................................ 21 A.1 Effects of hemicastration on total sperm motility (TSM), viable sperm (VS), morphologically normal sperm (MNS), and total sperm numbers (Total) before hemicastration (time period 0) and 14 d, 30 d, 60 d post hemicastration (mean ± SD) ....................................................................... 45 B.1 Testis volume (cm3) pre-hemicastration, 30 d and 73 d post hemicastration as measured by ultrasonography ................................................................ 46 C.1 Testis weight (g) of first and second testicles removed ............................. 47 vii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The most desirable and financially attractive stallions are those that are reproductively capable of handling a large book of mares per breeding season (Blanchard et al., 2012). Prior to the breeding season, mare owners and managers seek out stallions with impressive pedigrees, notable performance records, and outstanding conformation (Varner et al., 2008) that may successfully cross with a mare and produce sought after offspring. It is imperative to optimally manage and maintain breeding stallions' capabilities to be reproductively efficient and produce quality spermatozoa. Subfertility in stallions leads