Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Published:

Plasma Testosterone in Cows Related to Day of Gestation and Sex of the Foetus, and Plasma Testosterone Levels Around Parturition

Plasma testosteron i kyr i relasjon til drektighetsdag og kjønn av fosteret og plasma testosteron rundt fødsel

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 23, pages 438–445 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

No significant differences in plasma testosterone level were observed between cows carrying a male foetus and cows carrying a female foetus at any ten-day interval from day 35 of gestation until parturition. Reported higher abortion rates for male than for female foetuses would thus appear not to be due to effects of foetal testosterone on the maternal endocrine balance. In spite of a great individual variation in plasma testosterone values at similar stages of gestation, certain trends are evident. From the 35th to the 80th day of gestation the average concentration was 90–100 pg/ml. Later it rose and reached 200 pg/ml on the 180th day, remaining at this level until after partus. During the first day after parturition plasma testosterone fell significantly and stabilized around 120 pg/ml.

Sammendrag

Testosteron ble målt perifert i plasma hos i alt 258 kyr, fra dag 35 i drektigheten og frem til partus. Resultatene ble sammenstilt for hvert 10-dagers inter vail og verdiene sammenlignet. Ikke på noe tids-punkt ble det påvist signifikante forskjeller mellom kyr med hann-foster og hunnfoster. Den rapporterte høyere abortfrekvens for hann-fostre enn for hunnfostre synes derfor ikke å kunne tilskrives effekten av testosteron secernert fra den føtale testis på mordyrets endokrine balanse.

Til tross for store individuelle variasjoner i testosteronkonsen-trasjonen i plasma på samme tidspunkt i drektigheten, ble det påvist en tydelig økning utover i drektigheten. I perioden 35–80 dager lå nivået på 80–100 pg/ml. Nivået steg så frem til 180. dag hvoretter det stabiliserte seg på ca 200 pg/ml frem til fødselen. Etter f0dselen sank nivået i løpet av første dag og stabiliserte seg på 120 pg/ml.

References

  • Attal, J.: Levels of testosterone, androstenedione, estrone and estra-diol-17β in testes of fetal sheep. Endocrinology 1969, 85, 280–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cedard, L., J. Varangot, S. & S. Yannotti: Riosynthese des oestrogens dans les placentas humains perfusés in vitro: formation d’oestrone et d’oestradiol a partir de Steroides neutres ou substitués. (Riosynthesis of oestrogens in perfused human placenta: Formation of oestrone and oestradiol from neutral or substituted steroids). C. R. Acad. Sei. 1963, 257, 2725–2727.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Challis, J. R. G., C. K. Kun, F. Naftolin, H. L. Judd, S. S. C. Yen & K. Berneschke: The concentrations of androgens, oestrogens, progesterone and luteinizing hormone in the serum of foetal calves throughout the course of gestation. J. Endocr. 1974, 60, 107–115.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan, S. W. C. & J. H. Leathern: Placental steroidogenesis in rat-comparison of normal and giant placental. Endocrinology 1977, 100, 1418–1422.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Convey, E. M.: Serum hormones concentrations in ruminants during mammary growth, — lactogenesis and lactation: A review. J. Dairy Sci. 1974, 57, 905–917.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edqvist, L. E., L. Ekman, B. Gustafsson & E. D. B. Johansson: Peripheral plasma levels of oestrogens and progesterone during late bovine pregnancy. Acta endocr. 1973, 72, 81–88.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffmann, B., W. C. Wagner & T. Gimênez: Free and conjugated steroids in maternal and fetal plasma in the cow near term. Biol. Reprod. 1976, 15, 126–133.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jost, A.: Recherches sur la différenciation sexuelle de l’embryon de Lapin. (Studies on the sexual differentiation of the rabbit embryo). Archs. Anat. micros. Morph, exp. 1947, 36, 271–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, C. K., S. C. Yen & K. Benirschke: Serum testosterone in fetal cattle. Gen. comp. Endocr. 1972, 18, 404–407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mizuko, M., J. Lobotsky, C. W. Lloyd, T. Kobayashi & Y. Murasawa: Plasma androstenedione and testosterone during pregnancy and in the newborn. J. Clin. Endocr. Metab. 1968, 28, 1133–1142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mongkonpunya, K., Y. C. Lin, P. A. Noden, W. D. Oxender & H. D. Hafs: Androgens in the bovine fetus and dam. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 1975, 148, 489–493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mori, T.: Steroid hormone formation in bovine ovarian follicles. Endocr. Jap. 1975, 22, 361–366.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pope, G. S., S. K. Gupta & L B. Munro: Progesterone levels in the systemic plasma of pregnant, cycling and ovariectomized cows. J. Reprod. Fertil. 1969, 20, 369–381.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raeside, J. I. & D. M. Sigman: Testosterone levels in early fetal testis of domestic pigs. Biol. Reprod. 1974, 13, 318–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randal, R. B. & R. E. Erb: Reproductive steroids in the bovine. IV changes and interrelationship from 0 to 260 days of pregnancy. J. Anim. Sci. 1971, 33, 115–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Resko, J. A.: Androgen secretion by the fetal and neonatal rhesus monkey. Endocrinology 1970, 87, 680–687.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rivarola, M. A., M. G. Forest & C. J. Migeon: Testosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone in plasma during pregnancy and delivery: Concentration and protein binding. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1968, 28, 34–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanwal, P. C, A. Sundby & L. E. Edqvist: Diurnal variation of peripheral plasma levels of testosterone in bulls measured by a rapid radioimmunoassay procedure. Acta vet. scand. 1974, 15, 90–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seaton, B.: Patterns of oestrogen and testosterone excretion during pregnancy in a gorilla (Gorilla gorilla). J. Reprod. Fértil. 1978, 53, 231–236.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shemesh, M., W. Hansel & P. W. Concannon: Testosterone synthesis in the bovine corpus luteum. Biol. Reprod. 1975, 13, 490–493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skjervold, H. & J. W. James: Causes of variation in sex ratio and sex combination in multiple births in sheep. Livestock Prod. Sci. 1979, 6, 387–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stabenfeldt, G. H., B. L Osburn & L. L. Ewing: Peripheral plasma progesterone levels in the cow during pregnancy and parturition. Amer. J. Physiol. 1970, 218, 571–575.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundby, A., R. Tollmon & W. Velle: Long-term effect of HCG on plasma testosterone in bulls. J. Reprod. Fertil. 1975, 45, 249–254.

  • Velle, W.: Unders0kelser over naturlig forekommende 0strogener hos dr0vtyggere og gris (Investigations on naturally occurring oestrogens in ruminants and the pig). Thesis, Oslo 1958.

  • Warren, D. W., G. C. Haltmeyer & K. B. Eik-Nes: The effect of gonadotropins on the fetal and neonatal rat testis. Endocrinology 1975, 96, 1226–1229.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. D. & P. K. Sitteri: Developmental pattern of testosterone synthesis in the fetal gonad of the rabbit. Endocrinology 1973, 92, 1182–1192.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Veterinary College of Norway, and the Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 8146, Dep., Oslo 1, Oslo, Norway

    A. Sundby & Ø. Joakimsen

Authors
  1. A. Sundby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ø. Joakimsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sundby, A., Joakimsen, Ø. Plasma Testosterone in Cows Related to Day of Gestation and Sex of the Foetus, and Plasma Testosterone Levels Around Parturition. Acta Vet Scand 23, 438–445 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546795

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546795

Keywords

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147