RESUMO
We obtained the paired testes from 66 clinically healthy camels during two consecutive breeding seasons. Testicular tissues were examined for peripubertal changes in histological structure as well as spermatogenic and steroidogenic activities. Cellular sizes (length microm x width microm) increased linearly (P< 0.05) throughout the first three years of the animal's life for Leydig cells and between two and a half and five years of age for Sertoli cells. A clear increase in the percentage of tubules demonstrating primary and secondary spermatocytes occurred between less than one and five years and a cohort of elongated spermatids was produced in 3.5 +/- 0.2% tubules in males of two and a half years old; the appearance of spermatozoa in 3.1 +/- 0.3% tubules was evident six months later. The basal values for intratesticular and plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta and testosterone respectively, were measured in all animals up to one and a half years for oestradiol-17 beta and three years for testosterone. Thereafter, both steroids increased markedly (P< 0.01) peaking to 269.5 +/-27.1 pg/g and 83.4 +/- 8.3 pg/mL at three years for oestradiol-17 beta and to 164.7 +/- 16.8 ng/g and 6.8 +/- 0.7 ng/mL at five years for testosterone. The results suggested that a steroid hormonal shift around four and a half to five years of age could demarcate the beginning of pubertal period which culminates with the production of the first ejaculum containing higher concentrations of spermatozoa by dromedary camels of six years old.