R. Kolle et al., EFFECTS OF AN ANTIANDROGEN TREATMENT ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF MALE FALLOW DEER (DAMA-DAMA L), The Journal of experimental zoology, 267(3), 1993, pp. 288-298
From mid-April to late November, i.e., during antler growth phase and
main breeding season, a group of four (later three) male fallow deer w
as treated with increasing doses of the antiandrogen cyproterone aceta
te (CA). Throughout the treatment period, plasma testosterone levels o
f the bucks were either undetectable or only slightly above the detect
ion limit of 0.1 ng/ml. In marked contrast to controls, testicular vol
umes and neck girths of the CA treated bucks were basal during the app
lication period, proving the strong antigonadotropic effect of CA (tes
ticular volume) and the absence of androgen action at the normal targe
t organs (neck girths), respectively. Antler growth in the CA treated
bucks occurred during the normal time span for fallow deer and the ant
lers produced were of species specific shape. From this it is conclude
d that in fallow deer, onset, duration, and termination of antler grow
th are independent of androgen action. Velvet shedding in the CA treat
ed bucks however did not occur at the normal time (late August/early S
eptember), but was postponed until late December/early January, i.e.,
about 5 weeks after the termination of CA application. Activity of alk
aline phosphatase in the experimental animals increased during the ant
ler growth phase, but was markedly lower than in controls. Maximum bod
y weight in the CA treated bucks was reached already in June, i.e., ab
out 3 months prior to controls. Furthermore, the rut associated, drast
ic decline in body weight observed in controls did not occur in the ex
perimental animals. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.