The Post-Natal Development of the Reproductive Tract of the Suffolk Ram, and Changes in the Gonadotrophin Content of the Pituitary

Abstract

The growth of the pituitary and of the reproductive tract of Suffolk rams from birth to 168 days of age has been studied. Pituitary icsh and fsh concentrations were determined by bio-assay. The pattern of testicular androgen production has been examined using chemical and histological techniques and the relationship to spermatogenesis studied. Pituitary gonadotrophin content increased sharply from 42 days of age but was only weakly correlated with other parameters measured.The androstenedione : testosterone ratio was at its narrowest at birth; however, testosterone was the predominant androgen from birth onwards. Androgen concentration fluctuated but the total content increased with increase in testicular weight. Fructose was present in the seminal vesicles from birth and citric acid from 14 days; citric acid concentration was about one-tenth that of fructose. There was a significant correlation between testicular androgen content and the fructose and citric acid concentration and content of the seminal vesicles.Seminiferous tubule diameter was significantly correlated with most of the parameters measured. Testicular weight increased sharply from 42 days of age. Androgen production was present at birth and preceded spermatogenesis which began when testis weight exceeded 10 g, which was after 56 days of age. Spermatozoa were present in the seminiferous tubules at 112 days of age. J. D. Skinner et al. development of the seminal vesicles, prostate and bulbo-urethral gland, which in the late-term foetus resemble those in the castrated adult.The object of the present study was to examine the sexual development of the Suffolk ram from birth to 168 days of age. MATERIALS AND METHODSMaterial was provided by fifty-four Suffolk lambs allocated at random into six groups for slaughter at intervals of 14 days, from birth to 168 days. To obtain sufficient material for assay the numbers in the groups were as follows: ten at birth, eight at 14 days, six at 28 days, four from 42 to 70 days, two from 84 to 154 days, and six at 168 days. Histological observations on the testes of a 103-day-old ram foetus and a 105-day-old ram have also been included.The lambs were weighed before slaughter, after which the head was im¬ mediately removed, the pituitary gland removed, weighed, sealed in tin foil and frozen over solid C02 within 3 min of slaughter.The testes were then removed, weighed and slices taken for histology, the testes were then stored over solid C02. The amount of testosterone and androstenedione in the testes was estimated later. The remainder of the tract was dissected out, the accessory glands weighed individually, slices taken for histology and the seminal vesicles then stored over solid C02. The amount Sexual development in the ram 465 were evaporated to dryness and preliminarily chromatographed using thin-layer chromatography, medium Silica-gel GF 254 and solvent system CHCl3:EtoAc (2:1). This step finally removed contaminating substances which would otherwise have interfered with the resolution of the paper chromatograp...

Developmental Changes in Spermatogenesis, Testicular Carnitine Acetyltransferase Activity and Serum Testosterone in the Ram1

“…Normal spermatogenesis was evident in all rams aged 180 days or older. The histological data of the present study are in close agreement with the findings of Carmon and Green (1952), Courot (1962) and Skinner et al (1968). Testicular Carnitine Acetyltransferase.…”

Morpho-Histometric Evaluations of Pre-Pubertal, Pubertal and Post-Pubertal Vesicular Gland of Indigenous Bulls of Bangladesh

“…The central collecting sinus of each lobule had similar pseudostratified epithelium into which open the glandular tubes (Dellmann & Eurell). Three type of cells were identified in the pseudostratified epithelium containing A, B and C. It was also described earlier in goat (Yao & Eaton;Wrobel, 1970;Gupta & Singh, 1982;Plöen, 1980;) sheep (Skinner et al, 1968;Singh et al, 1980) and buffalo (Sudhakar et al). Table I.…”

Seminal Glands of Buffalo Bulls (Bos bubalis L.) During Prepubertal and Pubertal Periods: Histological and Histochemical

“…This finding goes hand in hand with Fahmy and Osman [10], Abdel-Raouf [16], Ghonimi et al [33], Amselgruber and Feder [36] in bull, Aumüller and Seitz [37] in bovines, Abbas [15], Skinner et al [38] in ram, Wrobel [39] in goat, Brewster [27] in human and Veneziale et al [40] in guinea pigs who reported that the secretory end pieces of seminal glands were found lined by two types of cells; columnar cells with variable height and low basal cells. While, the three types of cells; A, B and C have been identified by Yao and Eaton [21], Gupta [30], Gupta and Singh [41] in goat, Ploen [42], Singh et al [43] in ram and Chandrapal [11], Sudhakar et al [23] in buffalo and also Aumüller and Seitz [37] in bovines.…”