The Effect of Vitamin A Deficiency on Semen Quality and the Effect of Testosterone and Pregnant Mare Serum on Vitamin A Deficient Rams

Abstract

Thirty-five Hampshire and Columbia ram lambs were put on experiment at three to five months of age and fed natural rations almost devoid of carotene supplemented in various lots with (1) vitamin A, (2) ten members of the vitamin B-complex, (3) testosterone propionate, or (4) pregnant mare serum. Vitamin A supplementation resulted in normal growth, normal blood vitamin A and C levels, and the production of normal semen, The effects of other supplements were negligible. Rams on rations not supplemented with vitamin A developed deficiency symptoms after periods of from 7 to 21 weeks on experiment. These included muscular and nervous incoordination, partial loss of appetite, general weakness, night blindness, mild convulsions, and general unthriftiness. Plasma vitamin A and C dropped lto low levels and semen quality was low in the deficient rams. Hemoglobin level of the blood was not affected. Neither testosterone propionate nor pregnant mare serum exerted any beneficial influence on semen quality of vitamin A deficient rams. A high percentage of the deficient rams had cystic pituitary glands at autopsy. Several rams in both the deficient and vitamin A supplemented lots developed urinary calculi during the experiment. Copyright © . .