Divergent Trajectories of PSA and Testosterone During Sexual Maturation in Male Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius): Implications for Androgen-Independent Prostate Biomarker Dynamics.

The relationship between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone during sexual maturation in male dromedary camels remains poorly understood, despite its clinical importance in prostate health monitoring and reproductive management. In 50 intact male dromedaries divided into five age groups, we looked at the longitudinal changes of these biomarkers. Testosterone showed a substantial correlation with age (r = 0.89), although PSA only showed a modest connection (r = 0.41). Phase-specific correlations between PSA and testosterone were non-significant, ranging from slightly negative (r = -0.39) during the transitional phase to modestly positive (r = 0.40) after puberty. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate a distinct divergence between PSA and testosterone trajectories during camel maturation, which may reflect developmental and functional changes associated with prostatic cellular differentiation and functional maturation during puberty, with the possibility of specific regulatory mechanisms that may not be entirely androgen-dependent. Establishing these age-specific profiles provides an essential biomarker framework to enhance reproductive health assessment and veterinary management strategies in dromedary camels.