Andrology of the Bull

Spermatogenesis/ Hormones/ Breeding

Soundness
 Spermatogenesis:

The process by which stem cells

develop into mature spermatozoa.
There are three phases:
(1) Spermatocytogenesis (Mitosis)
(2) Meiosis
(3) Spermiogenesis
 Spermatogonium

1/ SPERMATOCYTOGENESIS

2/ MEIOSIS

Spermatids

3/ SPERMIOGENESIS

Spermatozoa

Epididymal Maturation
Spermatogonium

Mitosis

Primary Spermatocyte

1st Meiosis

Secondary Spermatocyte

2nd Meiosis

Spermatids

Spermatozoa

Epididymal Maturation
Spermatogonium

15 Days

Primary Spermatocyte

15 days

Secondary Spermatocyte

1 - 2 Days

Spermatids

15 days
Spermatozoa

21 days

Epididymal Maturation
 Spermatogonium
4
15 Days

Primary Spermatocyte

15 days
1
Secondary Spermatocyte

1 - 2 Days

Spermatids
2
15 days
Spermatozoa
3
21 days

Epididymal Maturation
Sensitivity to Disruption- 1: Most sensitive/ 4: Least sensitive
Blood-Testes Barrier
„ Tight junction between
adjacent Sertoli cells.
„ Large molecules cannot pass
from the blood into the lumen
of a seminiferous tubule
„ The spermatogonia are in the
basal compartment (deep to
the level of the tight junctions)
„ More mature forms are in the
adluminal compartment.
„ The function of the blood-
testis barrier may be to
prevent an auto-immune
reaction.
 Leydig Cells
Æ Stimulated by LH
Æ Secrete TESTOSTERONE
Æ FSH increases number of
LH receptors
Sertoli Cells
Æ Stimulated by FSH
Æ “Nurse” cells of the testes
Æ Secrete ESTRADIOL and
INHIBIN Æ -ve Feedback
Æ Supports Spermatogenesis
ÆForms Blood- Testes Barrier
Æ Requires FSH and testosterone
Æ Produces Androgen-binding
protein (ABP)
Testosterone
„ Target Cells
Æ Cells of Spermatogenesis
Æ Accessory Sex Glands
Æ Genitalia
Æ Anabolic effect (muscles)
„ Maintain Target Concentrations
Æ -ve Feedback: Estradiol & inhibin
Æ Autoregulation Æ -ve feedback
Maintained in Testes:
Æ ABP binding testosterone
Æ Pampiniform Plexus
A- Testicle
B- Epididymis (head)
C- Epididymis (body)
D- Epididymis (tail)
E- Ductus deferens
F- Mesorchium
G- Ampulla
H- Vesicular Gland
I- Prostate
K- Urethra
L- Bulbourethral gll
M- Bulbospongiosus
N- Crus penis
O- Ischiocavenosus
P- Penis
R- Glans Penis
S- Retractor penis
T- Urinary bladder
U- Pelvic symphysis
V- Rectum
A- Head of Epididymis
B- Body of Epididymis
C- Tail of Epididymis
D- Ductus Deferens
E- Epididymal Ligament
F- Mesorchium
G- Testicular bursa
 Function of the Epididymis
1/ Concentration of Sperm (head and body)-
Æ Absorption of excess fluid
Æ Increase storage capacity
2/ Maturation of Spermatozoa
Æ Chemical changes within sperm
3/ Storage of Sperm (tail)
Æ Sperm can age in epidydimis
 Breeding Soundness Examination
1/ History

2/ Physical examination
Æ General Examination
Æ Genital Examination
Æ External Genitalia
Æ Internal Genitalia
3/ Semen Evaluation
 History
„ Age of first service
„ Date of last service
„ Previous Examinations
„ Disease & Vaccination History
„ Transport
„ Breeding system- Ratio of bulls to cows
„ Herd health history/ Conception rates
General Physical Examination
„ General Conformation
Defects
„ Eyesight
„ Mastication problems
„ Locomotory problems
„ Hereditary Defects
„ Body Condition
External Genitalia
„ Scrotum
„ Testicles
„ Spermatic cord
„ Epididymides
„ Sheath
„ Penis
„ Scrotal Circumference
Scrotal Circumference
Internal genitalia
Rectal Examination:
„ Prostate Gland (8)
„ Seminal vesicles (7)
„ Cowper’s Gland (10)
„ Ampulla (6)
Æ Size
Æ Symmetry
Æ Width
Æ Consistency
Æ Pain on palpation
„ Inguinal Rings
Semen Collection
 Semen Evaluation

„Evaluate semen quality

Æ volume,
Æ color,
Æ consistency,
Æ mass motility (overall movement observed in
the microscopy, "waves"),
Æ individual motility of sperm cells
Æ semen morphology (that is: normal/abnormal
looking cells)
 Normal Parameters
Parameter Normal Values
„ Ejaculate volume 5 ml (range 1-15 ml)
„ Sperm concentration 1200 million/ml
(300-2500 million/ml)
„ Total sperm per ejaculate Typically 4-5 billion
„ Progressive motility Greater than 30%
„ Morphology Greater than 70% normal

http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/reprod/semeneval/bull.html
Color
„ Opacity:- Indication of
concentration
„ Color--acceptable color
ranges from milky to
creamy
„ (Note: This indicates
sperm per cubic
millimeter of 500,000 or
above.
„ Other colors indicating
less than 500,000
sperm/cu mm would be
opalescent (cloudy) to
watery.)
Mass/ Individual Motility
„ Bulls: > 30% progressively
motile sperm
„ Adversely affected by;
Æ heat
Æ cold
Æ residue on collection
equipment
Æ wrong pH or osmolality
Æ Sexual inactivity
Live/ Dead Staining
Live/ Dead Staining
 Major defects
A-Proximal Cytoplasmic
Droplet
B- Pyriform heads
C- Folded/ Coiled Tails
D- Middle piece Defects
E- Maldeveloped
F- Craters
Minor defects
A- Distal cytoplasmic
droplets
B- Tailless normal heads
C- Simple bend,
terminally coiled tail
D- narrow, small or
giant heads
E- Abaxial implantation
F- Abnormal Acrosomes