Comparison of spermatological characteristics and biochemical seminal plasma parameters of normozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic bulls of two breeds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in spermatological and seminal plasma biochemical characteristics between normozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic bulls. A total of 8 bulls were used and they were divided into 4 groups: Holstein normozoospermic (HN) and oligoasthenozoospermic (HO), and Brown Swiss normozoospermic (BSN) and oligoasthenozoospermic (BSO). Spermatological parameters investigated included semen volume, color, concentration, motility, and percentage of abnormal sperm. Biochemical parameters measured in seminal plasma included pH, glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol (CH), triglyceride, Mg, inorganic P (P-i), Ca, Na, K, and Cl ion concentrations. Colorimetric and ion selective electrode methods were used for these analyses. In general, Ca and P-i levels were lower in the oligoasthenozoospermic groups than in the normozoospermic groups of the 2 breeds. In Brown Swiss bulls, CH and triglyceride levels were higher in the BSN group than in the BSO group. In Holstein bulls, Na level was higher in the HO group than in the HN group. In contrast, K level was higher in the HN group than in the HO group. Negative correlations were found between abnormal spermatozoa morphology and mass activity, motility, sperm concentration, and CH, P-i, Ca, and Na concentrations; however, there was a positive correlation between abnormal spermatozoa morphology and K+ ion concentration.