Infertility in a cryptorchid bull: a case report

A unilateral cryptorchid bull stationed in an AI center for 3.5 yr was studied to determine if maintaining such a bull could be justified. The following parameters were determined: quantity and quality of the ejaculates, basal and stimulated plasma testosterone concentrations, and the histology and testosterone concentrations of the testicles. The bull produced 232 ejaculates of which 125 (53.8%) were immediately discarded; the rest (107 ejaculations) were processed into pellets. Two of the 107 frozen ejaculates (2%) were found to be of excellent quality, 37 were (34.5%) of good quality, 45 were (42%) of satisfactory quality and 23 were (21.5%) of poor quality. Treatment of the calf with GnRH and hCG at 4 and 5 mo of age did not initiate the descent of the retained testicle. Testosterone concentrations measured at 14 mo, after hCG stimulus, indicated that the bull had impaired steroidogenesis when compared with 2 control bull calves. Post mortem examination revealed a small left testicle in the inguinal canal and a normal right testicle as well as normal secondary sex glands. During the breeding period at the AI center, the bull's peripheral testosterone concentrations decreased from 2.2 to 0.95 ng/ml Testosterone concentrations in the parenchymal tissue of the scrotal testicle were higher than in the parenchyma of the retained testicle (98.2 vs 53.9 ng/g). In contrast, the epididymis of the scrotal testicle had a lower testosterone concentration than the epididymis of the retained testicle (10.8 vs 33. 0 ng/g). On histological examination no spermatozoa were found in the retained testicle, the Sertoli cells showed fat degeneration, and fibrotic tissue surrounded the tubuli seminiferi. No pathological changes were found in the normal scrotal testicle. In conclusion, no justification was found for maintaining such a bull in the AI center for breeding purposes.