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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 20(7)

Alteration in testicular cell components following transiently induced ischaemia in prepubertal bulls

G. M. Schuenemann A D , S. M. L. C. Mendis-Handagama B , T. M. Prado C and F. N. Schrick A E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Animal Science, Institute of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.

B Department of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.

C Department of Large Animal Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.

D Present address: College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University, A100 L Sisson Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

E Corresponding author. Email: fschrick@utk.edu

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 20(7) 826-834 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD08003
Submitted: 1 January 2008  Accepted: 8 June 2008   Published: 1 September 2008

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate transient testicular ischaemia (induced using elastrator bands) in Jersey calves on testicular morphology and development. Treatments (at 27 ± 5 days of age) consisted of control (0 h banding) and banding for 2, 4 or 8 h (n = 4 in each group). After castration (at 60 ± 5 days of age), the right testis was used for calculation of cell components per testis according to the point-counting method. Bodyweight (59.8 ± 6.2 kg) and scrotal circumference (SC) at banding (9.1 ± 0.2 cm) did not differ between groups. Fresh testis weight, scrotal temperature immediately before band removal and daily SC growth were decreased in ischaemic (4 and 8 h) testes compared with controls (P < 0.05). In addition, the number of Sertoli and Leydig cells was significantly reduced in the 8 h ischaemic treatment group (P < 0.05). Transiently induced ischaemia significantly decreased the number of germ cells in the 8 h ischaemic treatment group (13 ± 5 × 106 cells) compared with the 0, 2 and 4 h ischaemic treatment groups (38 ± 6, 32 ± 6 and 33 ± 5 × 106 cells, respectively; P < 0.05). These results suggest that transiently induced ischaemia for 8 h significantly decreases the number of germ, Sertoli and Leydig cells in prepubertal testis.

Additional keywords: germ cell, recipient animals, spermatogonial transplantation, testis development.


Acknowledgements

The authors thank Henry Dowlen, Hugh Moorehead and Phillip Lunn at the Dairy Research and Education Center (Lewisburg, TN, USA) for providing the animals used in the present study and for their assistance in conducting the study.


References

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