Authors : I.I. Bitto , G.N. Egbunike and M.O. Akusu
Abstract: Due to the lack of information on biochemical characteristics of spermatozoa and seminal plasma of pubertal bucks in tropical breeds of goats in general and the WAD breed in particular, 6 kid bucks were randomly selected at birth, weaned between 35 and 40 days of life and monitored for puberty. At the attainment of puberty, they were ejaculated twice weekly for 3 months. Semen was separated into spermatozoa and seminal plasma and analyzed for total protein, glucose, cholesterol phospholipids, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and Acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE). The results in comparison with values obtained from the semen of adult bucks of the same breed under similar conditions of management showed similarities between the age groups (p>0.05) in spermatozoal total protein, phospholipids, LDH and AChE, while spermatozoal glucose and cholesterol were depressed (p<0.001) in the adult buck. Seminal plasma cholesterol and LDH were likewise similar (p>0.05) between pubertal and adult bucks while pubertal buck seminal plasma was inferior to that of the adult in total protein (p<0.001), glucose (p<0.001), phospholipids (p<0.05) and AChE (p<0.001). Linear correlations between the biochemical characteristics of pubertal buck spermatozoa and seminal plasma showed significant positive relationships between spermatozoal total protein and cholesterol (r = 0.36; p<0.05), spermatozoal glucose and LDH (r = 0.42; p<0.05) and spermatozoal cholesterol with AChE (r = 00.50; P<0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between spermatozoal glucose and AChE (r = -0.35; p<0.05). In seminal plasma, total protein was significantly positively related to phospholipids (r = 0.55;p<0.01) while glucose was significantly positively related to LDH (r = 0.51;p<0.05). Cholesterol was positively related to LDH (r = 0.35; p<0.05) but negatively related to LDH (r = -0.52, p<0.05). These results suggest that differences may exist in the responses of pubertal and adult buck semen to the same extension and storage media in this environment.
I.I. Bitto , G.N. Egbunike and M.O. Akusu , 2007. Some Biochemical Characteristics of Spermatozoa and Seminal Plasma of Pubertal West African Dwarf Bucks in Their Native Humid Tropical Environment. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 1390-1394.