The effects of increase testicular temperature on spermatogenesis in the stallion.

Stallions can experience an increase in testicular temperature from bouts of fever or from injury to the testes. In species other than the horse, increased temperature models have been used to study testicular degeneration. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of increased testicular temperature on spermatogenesis in the stallion as measured by semen evaluation. The results of this investigation demonstrate that increased testicular temperature is associated with significant transitory alterations in the routine semen evaluation of the stallion. The duration of increased testicular temperature affected the degree of change observed. The temporal nature and degree of the change in the semen evaluation is described. Predictive formulae for expected changes in the semen evaluation have been derived.