Effect of endogenous hormones, antisperm antibody and oxidative stress on semen quality of crossbred bulls

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of factors like hormones, antisperm antibody (ASA), and oxidative stress and its relation with semen quality in crossbred bulls. Ejaculates from two bulls were categorized into good (n = 12) and poor (n = 12) based on initial progressive motility, that is, ≥70% and ≤50%, respectively. The level of hormones like Testosterone (p < 0.05) and PGE₂ (p < 0.01) was significantly higher in good-quality ejaculates compared to poor-quality ejaculates; however, estradiol (p < 0.05), progesterone, oxidative stress, and ASAs were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in poor-quality ejaculates compared to good-quality ejaculates. Therefore, it could be concluded that oxidative stress and hormonal imbalance might have resulted in high number of dead and defective spermatozoa which was ultimately responsible for poor quality semen ejaculates.

Keywords:

• Antisperm antibodies
• oxidative stress
• estradiol
• progesterone
• hormonal imbalance

Acknowledgments

The authors thankfully acknowledge the Director, and Joint Director (Research), ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar for providing funds and facilities for the research.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

The data that support the outcomes of this study will be made available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author. Due to privacy restrictions, the data are not publicly available because it could compromise the secrecy of research participants.