The effects of stanozolol and boldenone undecylenate on plasma testosterone and gonadotropins and on testis histology in pony stallions

Fifty 2- to 16- yr old pony stallions were randomly assigned to one of five treatments: Group 1, controls (no treatment); Group 2, 0.55 mg/kg stanozolol weekly for 13 treatments; Group 3, 1.1 mg/kg stanozolol every 3 wk for 5 treatments; Group 4, 1.1 mg/kg boldenone undecylenate every 3 wk for 5 treatments; and Group 5, 0.55 boldenone undecylenate weekly for 13 treatments. Mean plasma testosterone levels for Groups 2, 4, and 5 were elevated over controls (P < 0.01) at 2, 8, and 9 wk, respectively. Testosterone levels for ponies in Group 3 did not differ from controls (P > 0.05). There were no differences in mean plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels among groups (P > 0.05). Daily spermatid production per gram of testicular parenchyma (DSP/gm) in Group 5 was lower than in controls (P < 0.05), whereas DSP/gm was not different among groups 1 to 4 (P > 0.05). There were no differences among groups (P > 0.05) in the percentage of Stage 8 tubules or relative number of Leydig cells. The mean diameter of Leydig cells was less for Group 5 than for controls (P < 0.05), but was not different for Groups 1 to 3 (P > 0.05).