Effects of a GnRH administration on testosterone profile, libido and semen parameters of dromedary camel bulls

Davide Monaco; Meriem Fatnassi; Barbara Padalino; Lydiane Aubé; Touhami Khorchani; Mohamed Hammadi; Giovanni Michele Lacalandra

doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.08.011

Effects of a GnRH administration on testosterone profile, libido and semen parameters of dromedary camel bulls

Res Vet Sci. 2015 Oct:102:212-6. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.08.011. Epub 2015 Sep 2.

Authors

Davide Monaco¹, Meriem Fatnassi², Barbara Padalino³, Lydiane Aubé⁴, Touhami Khorchani⁵, Mohamed Hammadi⁵, Giovanni Michele Lacalandra¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.), Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production Section, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy.
² Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A.), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia; Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott-Meriem, University of Sousse, Tunisia.
³ Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Valenzano, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: barbara.padalino@uniba.it.
⁴ Laboratoires d'Ethologie Animale et Humaine EthoS, University of Rennes, Rennes, France.
⁵ Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A.), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia.

PMID: 26412546
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.08.011

Abstract

GnRH treatment has been suggested to increase testosterone levels temporarily and to stimulate libido in stallions, but its use has not fully ascertained in dromedary camels. The aim of this work was to study the effects of administering 100 μg of GnRH on testosterone profile, libido and semen parameters in dromedary camels. The same bulls were used as self-controls and experimental group. Blood samples were collected every 20 min (T0-T12) for 4h, and semen collections were performed over a 2-hour period after T12. GnRH was administered immediately after T0. In GnRH-treated bulls, testosterone levels showed an upward trend, peaking after 140 min, and then slowly decreasing. GnRH administration also led to a decrease in mating time and an increase in spermatozoa concentration. Overall, it seems that administration of 100 μg GnRH might increase testosterone levels temporarily and enhance camel reproduction performance.

Keywords: Camelus dromedarius; Ejaculate quality; GnRH; Semen collection; Sexual behavior; Testosterone.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Camelus / physiology*
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology*
Male
Reproduction / drug effects*
Sexual Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
Sperm Count / veterinary
Testosterone / blood*

Substances

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Testosterone