Basal Levels and hCG Responses of Serum Testosterone and Estrogen in Male Alpacas

Abstract

Steroid response to human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) administration has been used in various species to study testicular function and for diagnostic purposes. In this study, two experiments were conducted to determine serum testosterone concentration response to administration of hCG and its correlation with testicular weight. In the second experiment the relationship between age, testosterone and estrogen response to hCG, and testicular histometry was in pre-pubertal and post-pubertal male alpacas. For experiment 1, males in two age groups (2 to 3 years, n = 9) and (4 to 7 years; n = 15) received 3,000 IU hCG IV, 36 to 48 h before castration. Serum testosterone concentration was determined before (T0), 1 h (T1), 2 h (T2), 8 h (T8), and 24 h (T24) after administration of hCG. Basal concentrations of serum testosterone was significantly different ( P < 0.01) between age groups. Serum testosterone concentrations increased over time and doubled 2 h after treatment. The highest change (250 to 300% increase from T0) was observed at 8 h (3.5 ± 0.3 ng/ml). A significant correlation ( P < 0.01; r = 0.64) was found between serum testosterone concentration and total testicular weight. For experiment 2, 60 males ranging in age from 6 to 60 months were used. Serum testosterone and estrogen was determined in samples taken just prior to and 2 h after administration of 3,000 IU hCG. Basal serum testosterone concentrations were very low (≤0.1 ng/mL) until 9 months of age then increased steadily with age. There was a significant variation amongst males within the same age group. Serum testosterone concentration increased by 2- to 4-fold 2 h after hCG injection ( P ≤ 0.05). Males in the 13 to 14 months of age group had the highest rise. Estrogen concentration increased in response to hCG administration and was detected only in males with high testosterone. We conclude that administration of 3,000 IU of hCG IV can be used reliably to detect testicular tissue and study its steroidogenic activity. The response is correlated with testicular weight and Leydig cell number. Testicular growth and sensitivity to LH stimulation increases between the ages of 13 and 14 months. The aromatizing ability of Leydig cells increased significantly in post-pubertal male alpacas.

Age-Related Differences in Testosterone Concentration and Its Relation to Testicular Biometrics, Hemodynamics, and Fertility in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

“…However, there is controversy regarding the testicular volume, specifically related to the relationship between testicular volume for predicting testosterone levels in humans and camelids, reporting high sensitivity and specificity in the analyses performed [ 28 , 45 ]. On the other hand, testicular size varies with age, and there is also an increase in testicular volume that corresponds to an increase in the amount of serum testosterone in camelids [ 46 ]. Likewise, there is a relationship between the testicular volume and the amount of Leydig cells (the cells in charge of testosterone production), which varies according to the histological pattern [ 47 ].…”

“…However, some authors report that there is no relationship between testicular morphometric parameters and testosterone production [ 29 ]. The relationship between testosterone concentration and TVA in the present study may be due to the fact that the testes are compact organs that need constant blood flow [ 46 ]. Several authors have stated that blood flow may be a marker to predict testicular functions in males because, anatomically, the testicular artery is branched and has an important endocrine function in hormone secretion (steroidogenesis) and exocrine function related to sperm production (spermatogenesis) [ 42 , 43 , 48 , 49 ].…”