Serum concentration of free testosterone (FT) in European bison with early spermiogenesis – a preliminary study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the dynamics of free testosterone concentrations in the blood serum of the European bison Bison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758) with early spermiogenesis in 3 age classes, using the program Statistica. Blood serum collected from 77 European bison specimens, culled in the autumn and winter seasons in the Białowieża Forest, in the years 1998–2003 was used for analysis. Serum free testosterone levels were determined by the ELISA No RE 52171 method of IMMUNO-BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES. We found moderate and high serum concentrations of free testosterone in European bison with early spermiogenesis in their age class. However, the mean free testosterone levels in European bison with early spermiogenesis did not differ statistically significantly from those observed in the remaining animals in a respective age class.