Spermatogenesis in the Bull (Ref.

Holstein bulls)
Bhuminand Devkota
Department of Theriogenology
Agriculture and Forestry University

Postnatal
Postnatal testicular
hormonal changes
development
Pre-spg

LH

Spg

Prim. Spc

FSH

Sec. Spc
Spt

Spz

Testosterone

10

20

30

Immature SC

40

Age (weeks)

10

20

Mature
SC

30

40

Hormonal interactions

Steroidogenic pathway

Hypothalamus

Cholesterol

GnRH

P450scc

Pregnenolone

Ant. Pit.
FSH

3bHSD, 17bHSD,
P450c17

DHT

Estrogen

FSH

Sertoli cells

Testosterone
P450arom

LH

E2

E2
LH
T

Inhibin

Leydig cells

Normal development
1 month

3 months

4 months

5 months

8 months

9 months

Germ
cells:
10m,
delayed
Sertoli cells:

Postnatal
division at 418m
months
12m
First spermatozoa at 9 months
Transformation at 5-8 months
Maturation at 9 months

Thank you very much