HORMONAL STUDIES IN BOVINE HORN CANCER

Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, oestradiol-17beta, corti sol, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels were analysed in Kankrej bulls, normal bullocks, bullocks with different stages of horn cancer and recovered bullocks. In normal bullocks LH level was signif icantly high while the testosterone level was significantly low when c ompared with bulls. No significant variations were noticed in the leve ls of oestradiol 17beta cortisol, T3 and T4 between bulls and normal b ullocks. Compared to normal bullocks, horn cancer-affected bullocks ha d significantly low levels of LH, T3 and T4, and significantly high le vel of cortisol. Serum levels of LH, T3 and T4 reduced progressively w hile the serum level of cortisol increased progressively as the clinic al stages of the disease advanced. Restorations of serum levels of LH, T3, T4 and cortisol were observed in recovered bullocks nearer to the levels in normal bullocks.