Androstenedione and Testosterone Levels in Peripheral Plasma of Male Shiba Goats during Development
1992 Volume 38 Issue 3 Pages 235-238
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1992 Volume 38 Issue 3 Pages 235-238
Developmental changes in testicular size and plasma androgen levels in male Shiba goats were studied during 2-12 months of age. Scrotal circumference increased rapidly until 5 months of age (18.6±0.9 cm; mean±SEM). Plasma androstenedione and testosterone reached peak levels of 0.23-0.50 ng/ml and 5.47-9.69 ng/ml, respectively as testicular size increased, and then showed a tentative decline with nadirs of 0.01-0.04 ng/ml and 0.26-0.94 ng/ml, respectively after full growth in testicular size. The fluctuation of androstenedione was in parallel with that of testosterone but the androstenedione levels were only 1-10% those of testosterone. Thus, the results indicated that testosterone was the predominant androgen starting from 2-3 months of age through puberty in male Shiba goats.
