Souza C E A, Araújo A A, Oliveira J T A, Lima Souza A C, Neiva J N M, Moura A A
Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil.
Reprod Domest Anim. 2010 Aug;45(4):644-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01322.x. Epub 2009 Jan 13.
We have investigated the reproductive development of the tropically adapted Santa Inês ram, the most common hair sheep in Brazil. From 8 to 48 weeks of age, 16 animals were evaluated for body and testis growth, semen parameters, testosterone concentrations and seminal plasma proteins, using two-dimensional SDS-PAGE. Animals were weaned at 30 days and kept in feedlots thereafter, receiving hay, concentrate (18% of crude protein) and mineral supplement. Body weight increased from 12.3 +/- 0.7 to 54.3 +/- 1.6 kg between 8 and 48 weeks (p < 0.05), but changes in thoracic perimeter and scrotal circumference were non-significant after 36 weeks (p > 0.05). The percentage of motile sperm increased slowly until 23 weeks and more rapidly after that age, but significant changes in progressive motility occurred after 25 weeks. Presence of abnormal sperm related inversely to age. Most significant changes in sperm concentration occurred between 38 and 44 weeks (0.38 +/- 0.05 to 1.14 +/- 0.24 x 10(9) cells/ml, p < 0.05) and testosterone reached its highest concentrations at 42 weeks, decreasing afterwards. Rams reached puberty at 28.2 +/- 0.8 weeks. The number of protein spots on seminal plasma gels was similar from 15 to 18 weeks (45 and 47 spots; p > 0.05), increased until 24 weeks (141 spots) and 28 weeks (170 spots; p < 0.05) and remained without significant (p > 0.05) changes from 28 to 48 weeks (186 +/- 10 spots). Furthermore, the intensity of selected spots on 2D maps increased (p < 0.05) between 15 and 28 weeks, which preceded or coincided with the main developmental changes in sperm motility and percentage of defective sperm in the ejaculates. These results will support future studies designed to characterize specific seminal plasma proteins whose expression relate to the development of testis, epididymis and accessory sex glands.
我们研究了适应热带环境的圣伊内斯公羊（巴西最常见的毛用绵羊）的生殖发育情况。在8至48周龄期间，使用二维SDS - PAGE对16只动物的身体和睾丸生长、精液参数、睾酮浓度以及精浆蛋白进行了评估。动物在30日龄时断奶，此后饲养在饲养场中，饲喂干草、浓缩饲料（粗蛋白含量18%）和矿物质补充剂。8至48周期间，体重从12.3±0.7千克增加到54.3±1.6千克（p<0.05），但36周后胸围和阴囊周长的变化不显著（p>0.05）。活动精子的百分比在23周前增长缓慢，之后增长加快，但25周后精子的前向运动才有显著变化。异常精子的出现与年龄呈负相关。精子浓度的最大变化发生在38至44周之间（从0.38±0.05增加到1.14±0.24×10⁹个细胞/毫升，p<0.05），睾酮在42周时达到最高浓度，之后下降。公羊在28.2±0.8周达到青春期。精浆凝胶上的蛋白质斑点数量在15至18周时相似（分别为45和47个斑点；p>0.05），到24周（141个斑点）和28周（170个斑点；p<0.05）时增加，28至48周期间保持无显著变化（186±10个斑点；p>0.05）。此外,二维图谱上选定斑点的强度在15至28周之间增加（p<0.05），这先于或与射精中精子活力和缺陷精子百分比的主要发育变化同时发生。这些结果将为未来旨在鉴定与睾丸、附睾和附属性腺发育相关的特定精浆蛋白的研究提供支持。
