Vol. 45, No. 1, 2001 content next

A REVIEW: FACTORS INFLUENCING SEMEN QUALITY AND ENDOCRINOLOGICAL SEX FUNCTION IN STALLIONS - WITH EMPHASIS ON GLUCOCORTICOIDS

Juhász, J. 1, Nagy, P. 2, Kulcsár, M. 2, Huszenicza, Gy. 2

1 Experimental Institute
H-2225 Üllő
Dóra major
Hungary		 2 Department of Obstetrics and Reproduction
Faculty of Veterinary Science
Szent István University
H-1400 Budapest
P. O. Box 2, Hungary

Summary

Factors influencing semen quality and endocrinological sex function in stallions have been reviewed in this paper. Special attention has been paid to the effect of glucocorticoids in other animal species. Some factors like season, age, and testicular size that influence the reproductive function of stallions can be considered as "physiological". Elevated testicular temperature, androgens, and anabolic steroids are the most important external factors that are known to alter semen quality and endocrine function severely in the stallion. No information is available on the possible role of feed contaminant mycotoxins to influence spermatogenesis in horses. In males, glucocorticoids not only affect the reproductive function at the level of the hypothalamus and/or pituitary but also act directly on the testis through specific receptors and induce depressed testosterone secretion. Despite such endocrine changes, dexamethasone treatment does not appear to influence semen parameters in stallions. There is hardly any information available on the effect of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antiparasitic and other substances on the semen quality of stallions. Based on this limited information, it appears that these drugs administered at therapeutic doses do not induce major changes in semen parameters of stallions.

Key words: stallion; semen quality; glucocorticoids; testosterone; LH

References

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Folia Veterinaria / 2001