Open AccessA Comparative Study of Seminal Plasma and Blood Serum Macro and Trace Elements in the the Breeding (October) and the Non-Breeding (April) Seasons in Merino Ram
Author(s) -
Bülent Bülbül,
Pınar Peker Akalin,
Nuri Başpınar,
Mustafa Numan Bucak,
Mesut Kırbaş,
Caner Öztürk,
Salim Güngör,
K. Gonca Akbulut
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the hellenic veterinary medical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.186
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 2585-3724
pISSN - 1792-2720
DOI - 10.12681/jhvms.20341
Subject(s) - selenium , zoology , seasonal breeder , manganese , zinc , sodium , biology , potassium , phosphorus , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry
In this study, it was aimed to investigate the concentrations of macro and trace elements in seminal plasma and blood serum in the breeding (October) and the non-breeding (April) seasons in Merino Ram. Nineteen Merino Rams, aged 18-24 months, were involved in the study. Blood (once) and ejaculate samples (6 replicates) were taken in the breeding (October) and the non-breeding (April) seasons. Blood serum, seminal plasma and diet Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Zinc, Selenium, Chrome, Manganese, Nickel, Molybdenum and Boron concentrations were determined by ICP-AES. In blood serum, Sodium and Selenium concentrations were higher (p<0.05 and 0.001, respectively) in the the breeding season than in non-breeding season, whereas Potassium, Chromium and Boron concentrations were lower (p<0.05, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively) in the breeding season than in the non-breeding season. In seminal plasma Calcium, Sodium, Zinc and Manganese concentrations were higher (p<0.05, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.05, respectively) in the breeding season than in the non-breeding season, whereas Phosphorus, Chrome, Molybdenum and Boron concentrations were lower (p<0.001, 0.001, 0.05 and 0.001, respectively) in the breeding season than in the non-breeding season. No difference was detected regarding the other elements. The higher levels of Cr and B in the non-breeding season compared to the breeding season both in serum and seminal plasma, regardless of diet intake, suggest that these elements may play a crutial role on male fertility in Merino Ram.