Premium
Melatonin administration enhances the reproductive capacity of young rams under a southern M editerranean environment
Author(s) -
Rekik Mourad,
Taboubi Rahma,
Ben Salem Imene,
Fehri Younes,
Sakly Cyrine,
Lassoued Narjess,
Hilali Muhi Eddine
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
animal science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.606
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1740-0929
pISSN - 1344-3941
DOI - 10.1111/asj.12350
Subject(s) - melatonin , testosterone (patch) , medicine , endocrinology , sperm , zoology , biology , andrology
This study tested the effect of melatonin treatment, initiated in late F ebruary on reproductive traits of young rams. A total of 14 young B arbarine rams were used. Seven animals were treated with three melatonin subcutaneous implants ( M elatonin) on 28 F ebruary while the remaining rams remained untreated ( C ontrol). After 60 days of melatonin administration, scrotal circumference reached average values of 32.1 ± 1.54 and 29.5 ± 1.0 cm for M elatonin and C ontrol animals, respectively ( P < 0.05). Semen characteristics did not differ between groups; melatonin treatment tended ( P = 0.091) to increase sperm concentration 60 days after implantation when means reached 5.87 ± 0.703 and 4.61 ± 0.654 × 10 9 spermatozoa/mL for M elatonin and C ontrol rams, respectively. Melatonin treatment significantly affected total activity time, number of lateral approaches and mount attempts in comparison to controls. During a 6‐h sampling period, mean plasma testosterone concentrations increased as a result of melatonin treatment ( P < 0.001) and testosterone pulse frequency averaged 3.45 ± 2.24 and 1.25 ± 1.0 ( P = 0.086) for M elatonin and C ontrol rams. Data clearly suggest that abrupt treatment of young rams with melatonin implants in winter is sufficient to improve reproductive traits.