Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of the Improvac on testosterone concentration in blood serum, sexual behavior and sperm quality in matured AI boars. A total of nine Danish Landrace AI boars were included in the analysis.MethodsThe trial period lasted for 15 weeks and was divided into four periods: Control period: three weeks before vaccination; Period I – four weeks after first vaccination; Period II – four weeks after second vaccination, Period III – four weeks after third vaccination. Blood and sperm samples were collected at weekly intervals. Freshly collected sperm samples were analyzed.ResultsTestosterone concentration correlated with libido (r = 0.531; p < 0.001), volume of ejaculate (r = 0.324; p < 0.001) and the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa (r = 0.207; p < 0.05). Testosterone concentration rised significantly (p < 0.05) in 5–6 week of trial, e. i. after the first dose of Improvac and after this peak the level of testosterone further progressively decreased (p < 0.05).ConclusionsResults from this study indicate that active immunization of sexually matured boars against GnRH has negative impact on testosterone concentration, sexual behavior, volume of ejaculate and total number of normal spermatozoa in ejaculate.
Highlights
The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of the Improvac on testosterone concentration in blood serum, sexual behavior and sperm quality in matured AI boars
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) selectively stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary to promote maturation of ovarian follicles or spermatogenesis [12,13]
The testosterone concentration was steady in control group, but rised significantly in all animals after the first vaccination (p < 0.05) injection
Summary
The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of the Improvac on testosterone concentration in blood serum, sexual behavior and sperm quality in matured AI boars. In some countries, culled AI boars are being castrated, slaughtered and their meat used to prepare meat products. Surgical castration of these boars, with anesthesia, is still complicated because of post-operative infections, stress, lost weight and etc. A more practical and animal-friendly alternatives to surgical castration would be the Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a decapeptide hypothalamic hormone that plays a central role in the regulation of mammalian reproduction. The GnRH vaccine stimulates antibody production to inactivate endogenous GnRH, and thereby reduces release of gonadotropin hormones leading to temporary gonadal atrophy [14], and as a result, regression of the reproductive organs, and “immunological castration” [15].
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