Biostimulatory effects of boar seminal gel, saliva and semen on sexual behavior of young boars, gilts and sows

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify novel biostimulatory compounds in boar seminal gel (SG), saliva and semen using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The bio-stimulatory effect of SG, SG + saliva and SG + semen on young boar for semen collection as well were employed to study bio-stimulatory effects on gilts and sows. Distilled water (DW) exposure was kept as control. SG, saliva and semen were screened for total 105, 96 and 89 compounds. The highest concentration was of alkanes followed by sugar alcohols, then hydrocarbons, amino acids and fatty acids. Elaidic acid was the novel compound identified in pigs. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) number of males got trained in exposure to SG (80%), SG + saliva (75%) and SG + semen (75%) than control (0%). The time (hrs) taken by young boars to get trained on exposure to combination of SG + saliva (244 ± 22.19) and SG + semen (216 ± 13.14) was lesser (p < 0.05) than SG (356 ± 61.85) alone. Interval (hrs) from initiation of exposure for exhibition of different sexual behaviour by males on exposure to SG, saliva and semen was lesser (p < 0.05) than control. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of females showed estrus response to exposure of SG (72.72%), SG + saliva (69.23%) and SG + semen (76.92%) than control (0). Interval (hrs) taken to exhibit estrus was shorter (p < 0.05) in females exposed to SG + saliva (201.88 ± 12.66), SG + semen (198.20 ± 9.42) than SG (262.14 ± 20.06) alone. Interval (hrs) for exhibition of different sexual behaviour by females on exposure to SG + saliva and SG + semen was lesser (p < 0.05) than control. In conclusion, novel compounds were identified in boar seminal gel, saliva and semen with biostimulatory properties have been identified in boar SG, saliva and semen. The combined exposure of SG with saliva and semen has more intense biostimulation effect than SG alone for training of young boars and estrus induction in gilts and sows. Such compounds biostimulatory effects can be exploited for augmenting reproductive efficiency in pigs.

Keywords:

• Pig
• sexual behaviour
• seminal gel
• saliva
• semen

Ethical approval

The study was conducted at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research- National Research Centre on Pig, Rani, Guwahati, 781131, India. The experimentation was carried out with prior approval from the Institute Animal Ethics Committee. The approved animal use protocol number was NRCP/CPCSEA/1658|IAEC-54, dated 03^rd December 2019.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Director, ICAR- National Research Centre on Pig, Rani, Guwahati, 781 131, India for providing the facilities for the conduction of the experiment. SK is thankful to Mr. N. Saharia and AR Laboratory staff for helping in the present study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

Conceived of and designed the experiments and revised the manuscript: SK, SR, VKG; analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript: SK, PJD, SB, RI, KB; performed the experiments and collected the samples: SK AC. All authors reviewed and approved the manuscript.

Data availability statement

All the data generated is included in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by NECBH, IIT (Guwahati) Campus, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.