MORPHOMETRIC AND ENDOCRINE ANALYSES OF THE EFFECTS OF NUTRITION ON THE TESTIS OF MATURE MERINO RAMS

The effects of nutrition on the testis were investigated in groups of five mature Merino rams that were fed either a sub-maintenance (low) d iet or a supra-maintenance (high) diet for 69 days. Testosterone, oest radiol and inhibin were measured in blood plasma sampled simultaneousl y from jugular and testicular veins after an i.v. injection of 200 ng ovine LH kg(-1). Plasma concentrations of testosterone, inhibin and oe stradiol were higher in testicular than in jugular vein plasma for bot h diets (P < 0.01). After the LH injection, jugular plasma testosteron e increased more rapidly (P < 0.01) in rams fed the high diet than in rams fed the low diet. This was not seen in the testicular vein. Oestr adiol concentrations were higher in rams on the high diet than in thos e on the low diet, in both the testicular (P < 0.0001) and the jugular vein (P < 0.02). Diet did not affect inhibin concentrations. Testes w ere surgically removed and processed for light microscopy. Testicular mass and seminiferous tubule length and diameter were higher with the high diet than the low diet (P < 0.01). The number of Sertoli cell nuc lei per testis was also affected (hi,oh diet: 120 +/- 6 x 10(8); low d iet: 77 +/- 7 x 10(8); P < 0.001), whereas the proportion of testis oc cupied by Sertoli cell nuclei was not affected. The number of Leydig c ells per testis was not affected by diet, but Leydig cells occupied a greater volume of testis in rams on the high diet than in those on the low diet (P < 0.001). The effects of nutrition on Leydig and Sertoli cells are consistent with changes in the endocrine and exocrine functi ons of the testis. The finding that Sertoli cell population was altere d in adult rams may be explained by the GnRH-independent effects of nu trition.