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Testis and Androgens
Concepts tested here
- Effect of castration
All Questions
2007 AIPMT-PRE 1 question
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Compared to a bull a bullock is docile because ofA bullock is a castrated bull, i.e. a male whose testes have been removed.
The Leydig (interstitial) cells of the testes secrete androgens, mainly testosterone.
Testosterone is responsible for the male secondary sexual characters, and it also acts on the central nervous system to produce male sexual behaviour and aggressiveness.
After castration the main source of testosterone is lost, so the bullock has much lower levels of testosterone in its blood.
As a result it loses its aggressiveness and becomes docile, which makes it suitable as a draught animal.
Its docility is not due to changes in cortisone, adrenaline or thyroxine.
So a bullock is docile because of lower levels of blood testosterone.