Seasonal alteration of testicular function in tomcats

Abstract

In order to determine if there is a seasonal alteration of the testicular function in tomcats, testis and epididymis from 16 cats have been sampled. Cats were from 4 months to 5 years old and samples occurred from March to August. Histologic slides were made from those testis and epididymis and different measures were made. Seminiferous tubules and epididymis ducts diameter, wall width and lumen width were measured. Results were compared to the age of the cats in a first intention and to the time of the sampling in a second intention. An increase in the seminiferous tubules diameter was confirmed during the months preceding the puberty but a real seasonal alteration hadn’t been demonstrated, despite of the previous studies that proved the opposite (Blottner & Jewgenow, 2007; Stornelli, et al., 2009; Alexandre-Pires, et al., 2012).