Relationships of plasma insulin-like peptide 3, testosterone, inhibin, and insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations with scrotal circumference and testicular weight in Japanese Black beef bull calves

Mitsuhiro SAKASE; Keita KITAGAWA; Masahiko KIBUSHI; Noritoshi KAWATE; W. W. P. N. WEERAKOON; M. A. HANNAN; Namiko KOHAMA; Hiromichi TAMADA

doi:10.1262/jrd.2018-034

Original Article

Relationships of plasma insulin-like peptide 3, testosterone, inhibin, and insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations with scrotal circumference and testicular weight in Japanese Black beef bull calves

Mitsuhiro SAKASE, Keita KITAGAWA, Masahiko KIBUSHI, Noritoshi KAWATE, W. W. P. N. WEERAKOON, M. A. HANNAN, Namiko KOHAMA, Hiromichi TAMADA

Author information

Mitsuhiro SAKASE
Hokubu Agricultural Institute, Hyogo Prefectural Technology Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hyogo 669-5254, Japan
Keita KITAGAWA
Department of Advanced Pathobiology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
Masahiko KIBUSHI
Department of Advanced Pathobiology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
Asago Animal Hygiene Institute of Hyogo Prefecture, Hyogo 669-5243, Japan
Noritoshi KAWATE
Department of Advanced Pathobiology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
W. W. P. N. WEERAKOON
Department of Advanced Pathobiology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
M. A. HANNAN
Department of Advanced Pathobiology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka 598-8531, Japan
Namiko KOHAMA
Hokubu Agricultural Institute, Hyogo Prefectural Technology Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hyogo 669-5254, Japan
Hiromichi TAMADA
Department of Advanced Pathobiology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka 598-8531, Japan

Keywords: Bull calf, Inhibin, Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), Testicular size

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2018 Volume 64 Issue 5 Pages 401-407

DOI https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.2018-034

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Abstract

This study was conducted to clarify the relationships of plasma concentrations of insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), testosterone, inhibin, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) with scrotal circumference and testicular weight in Japanese Black beef bull calves (n = 20), from birth to pre-puberty. Monthly blood sampling (0 to 7 months) and scrotal circumference measurements (0 to 7 months) were performed. Testicular weight was recorded immediately after castration at 7 months. Plasma INSL3, testosterone, inhibin, and IGF-I concentrations were measured either by enzyme immunoassay or time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay. The correlation coefficients of these hormonal concentrations with scrotal circumference were significant (P < 0.0001) and it was higher for INSL3 (r = 0.647) than for testosterone (r = 0.597), IGF-I (r = 0.400), and inhibin (r = –0.453). Calves with heavier testes (> 60 g) at castration (7 months) had higher (P < 0.05) plasma INSL3 (from 3 to 7 months) and inhibin (from 1 to 4 months) concentrations than those with lighter testes (< 60 g). The calves with heavier testes at castration had larger (P < 0.05) scrotal circumference than those with lighter testes from 3 to 7 months. In conclusion, blood INSL3 concentrations may be the best functional indicator among the hormones analyzed for determining total testicular volume during pre-puberty in bull calves. In addition, inhibin and INSL3 concentrations in early calfhood may be functional predictors for testicular weight at pre-puberty.

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