Effect of repeated injection of human chorionic gonadotropin on semen quality, testicular hemodynamics and hormonal profile of senile camel.

The current study aimed to determine the impacts of hCG injection on the reproductive performance and hormonal profile of senile camels. Ten adult senile camels were classified into two groups: control males (n = 5) and treated males (n = 5; received hCG) once/week. Testicular morphology and echotexture [testicular volume (TV), testicular echogenicity (TE), and pixel heterogeneity (PH)] were measured. Testicular blood flow (TBF), colored area (CA), testicular resistance and pulsatility indices (RI and PI), steroids [estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T), as well as nitric oxide (NO)] were estimated. Sperm motility [total motility (TM; %), non-progressive motility (NPM; %), progressive motility (PM; %)], sperm cell concentration (SCC; 10⁶ /mL), and viability (V; %) were also estimated. Examination begins one week before injection (W-1) and continued from W0 till W8 and then continued until W12 to determine post-treatment effect. Significant elevation (P < 0.05) of both TBF and CA (pixels) from W5 to W9, while TE, PH, RI, and PI were significantly declined (P < 0.05) from W4 to W8. E2, T, and NO levels were elevated (P = 0.01) from W4 to W8 for E2 and T, and from W4 to W9 for NO. Significant (P = 0.02) elevation of TM%, V%, PM%, and SCC from W8 to W11, with a decline in NPM%. T, E2, and NO positively correlated with TBF and negatively correlated with RI and PI. In conclusion, repeated administration of hCG improved the reproductive performance of senile male camels with an alteration in semen quality, steroids, testicular artery blood flow pattern, and NO levels.