Effect of vitamin A on testicular growth and spermatogenesis of Awassi ram lambs
1997
Al-Haboby, A.H. | Abdulkareem, T.A. | Alkass, J.E. (IPA Agricultural Research Center, Bghdad (Iraq))
Sheep in the rainfed area of Iraq graze only on stubble for approximately five months a year without vitamin A (Vit. A) supplementation. It is expected that ram lambs raised during the same period may have low Vit. A, which influence testicular growth and spermatogenesis. A study was conducted to inspect the effect of Vit. A shortage in the testosterone levels and spermatogenesis in ram lambs. Fourteen ram lambs were used and feed on straw and barley grains for 16 weeks. A group of five ram lambs were either monthly treated with 50000 IU (T1), 100000 IU Vit. A (T2) or left as control (C, 4 ram lambs). Vit. A was not different among groups at week 0 and it was higher in T1 and T2, compared to C group at week 16. Treatment with Vit. A for 16 weeks had no influence on testicular weight, relative testicular weight and volume density for the seminiferous tubule and the interstitium. Spermatogenic cells RW were higher in T1 (0.55 +- 0.11 g/kg) and in T2 (0.77 +- 0.14 g/kg) compared to C group (0.32 +- 0.09 g/kg). Among all spermatogenic cells, sperm cell RW was highly greater in Vit. A treated groups whereas, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids RW tended to be higher after Vit. A treatment
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