THE INFLUENCE OF INBREEDING ON LEVEL OF SEXUAL HORMONES IN RABBITS

Svetlana Georgieva, Svetlin Tanchev, Georgi Bonev, Evgeny Tanchev, Borislav Popov

Abstract: The purpose of the investigation was to investigate the influence of the level of inbreeding on sexual hormones testosterone and 17β-estradiol in rabbits. The study was carried out with California rabbits divided into 6 groups according on the level of inbreeding, as followed: ♂ rabbits: Fx = 0; Fx = 0.25; Fx = 0.375; ♀ rabbits Fx = 0; Fx = 0.25; Fx = 0.375. The results showed that increasing the degree of inbreeding reduces testosterone levels in males, and hence deteriorate their reproductive functions. The differences between the level of testosterone in autbred rabbits and those of two groups of inbred rabbits (Fx = 0.25 and Fx = 0.375) were statistically significant. In female there was no significant differences in the level of 17β-estradiol between autbred group and groups with different degree of inbreeding.

Keywords: 17β-estradiol; inbreeding; rabbits; testosterone

Date published: 2023-03-07