Medycyna Wet. 63 (3), 348-352, 2007
| Danek J. |
| Effect of dexamethasone on some sex steroids and biochemical parameters in stallion semen following LPS administration |
| The aim of the study was to determine the effect of dexamethasone injections on changes in seminal plasma testosterone and oestradiol-17β concentration and biochemical characteristics in stallions following endotoxin administration. Three clinically healthy stallions were infused intravenously with endotoxin (LPS) from Escherichia coli 055:B5 at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg b.w.; while four stallions were treated with dexamethasone (0.069 mg/kg b.w., IM) 10 min before the administration of LPS. Endotoxin administration elicited (24h- -9 weeks after LPS administration) a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in seminal plasma testosterone (T) and an increase in oestradiol-17β E2βconcentration. Administering endotoxin also influenced the seminal plasma biochemical components including total protein (TPR), albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (CHOL) concentration, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in TPR, ALB, and AST was noted. Dexamethason administration (DEX) had a different effect on endotoxin and induced testosterone and oestradiol-17β changes in the seminal plasma and biochemical quality of the stallions semen. DEX treatment had no influence on T, E2β. The positive influence of DEX was noticed in TPR and AST. The negative influence of administering LPS+DEX in the group of stallions which only received LPS was noted particularly in ALB and CHOL. |
| Keywords: stallion, sex steroids |