Effect of age and season on the testicular sperm reserve and testosterone profile in camel (camelus dromedarius)
El-kon, L LHeleil, B AMahmoud, S A
The present investigation aimed to determine the effects of age and seasons of the year on the testicular sperm reserve and seru m testosterone concentration in dromedary camels. Testes were collected from a local slaughterhouse during a period of one year ( breeding and non - breeding seasons) from two age groups (GI: 4 - 6 y r and GII: 8 - 10 y r ). Testicular sperm reserve was determined during the breeding ( December - May ) and non - breeding ( June - November ) seasons. Blood samples were collected for determination of serum testosterone concentration (ng/ml) . There was highly significant difference (P < 0.01) in the testicular sperm reserve between breeding (1 3 . 5 8 x 10 9 ) and non - breeding ( 9 . 90 x 10 9 ) seasons. The serum testosterone concentration (ng/ml) w as significantly increased during the breeding season (10.94 ng/ml) compared with that of the non - breeding season ( 4.43 ng/ml) . Testicular sperm reserve (1 4 . 3 4 in GII vs . 9 . 13 in GI) and serum testosterone concentration (10.43 vs . 4.94 ng /ml ) were significantly (P < 0.01) increased by age . It co uld be concluded that the age of the animal and season of the year have significant effects on the testicular sperm reserve and serum testosterone concentration in dromedary camels.(AU)
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