Effect of Exogenous Testosterone on Fructose and Citric Acid of Swine Semen

Abstract

Three levels of testosterone propionate in oil (7.5, 37.5 and 187.5 µg. per pound of body weight per day) were administered in sequence to six boars and later to the same animals as castrates. Two additional castrates received three levels of testosterone beginning 2 months after castration. Each increase in testosterone level increased the seminal fructose concentration in boars. However, pretreatment fructose levels differed widely between boars; fructose response to added testosterone was not uniform and was dependent upon pretreatment level. All animals served the artificial vagina 2 days after castration, but ceased to serve by 19 days after castration. Testosterone injections, beginning 8 to 22 days after castration, restored the castrates to service; however, the fructose level of each animal was usually restored to approximately the pretreatment level of the animal as a boar and was not increased by higher levels of testosterone. More testosterone was required to restore castrates to service when 2 months intervened between castration and initiation of therapy and an increase in dose above the level which restored the castrates to service resulted in increased seminal fructose.