EFFECT OF INHIBITION OF INCREASED GONADOTROPIN-SECRETION BEFORE 20 WEEKS OF AGE IN BULL CALVES ON TESTICULAR DEVELOPMENT

In bull calves serum concentrations of LH, FSH, and to a lesser extent testosterone, are increased transiently, between 6 and 20 weeks of ag e. The function of gonadotrophin and testosterone secretion in this pe riod of growth and development was tested by injecting five Hereford b ull calves with a GnRH agonist (15 mg Leuprolide acetate) i.m. at 6, 1 0 and 14 weeks of age; five vehicle treated calves acted as controls. On the basis of blood samples taken every 15 min for 10 h, at 12 weeks of age, mean serum concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone and LH and FSH pulse frequency and amplitude were decreased (P < 0.05) by Leu prolide acetate. At 24 weeks of age, mean serum concentrations of LH, and LH and FSH pulse frequency in Leuprolide acetate treated calves ex ceeded (P < 0.05) that seen in control calves. On the basis of blood s amples taken every other week, treatment with Leuprolide acetate decre ased mean serum concentrations of FSH and testosterone at 14, 16 and 1 8 weeks of age compared with control calves and delayed the peak of th e early increase in LH secretion from 20 to 24 weeks of age (P < 0.05) . Scrotal circumference between 22 and 50 weeks of age, pixel units fr om ultrasound images of the testes, testis mass at castration at 50 we eks of age, and numbers of spermatids and pachytene spermatocytes were all lower in Leuprolide treated calves than in controls. A transient increase in secretion of LH, FSH and testosterone in young bull calves before 20 weeks of age may, therefore, be a critical step in the init iation and timing of testicular development in bull calves.