No abstract

Antisperm antibodies have been found in repeat-breeding(RB) cows, and those causing agglutination and/or immobilization of sperm are considered to be closely related to unexplained infertility. However, a standard protocol for identifying antisperm antibodies (ASA) in cattle is not validated. Therefore, an investigation was undertaken to evaluate sperm immobilization (SIT), sperm agglutination (SAT) and immunoperoxidase (IPT)assays for detection of ASA in serum and their respective threshold levels for confirmation. Animals (heifers, normally breeding, repeat-breeding and pregnant animals) that were free from IBR, brucellosis and uterine infections (screened by clinical examination) were included in the study. Sperm agglutinating, sperm immobilizing and antisperm antibodies evaluated by respective assay were significantly higher (p < .05) in RB cows compared to other groups. The SIT assay was able to identify 61% of RB caused by ASA, more than those employing SAT and IPT. Furthermore, a dilution rate of 1:5 and 1:80 (confirms 59.0 and 57.0% RB+ve)were sufficient to diagnose ASA by SAT and IPT, respectively. Results indicate the presence of __12.6% clumped spermatozoa and __ 2.6%(cut-off value) peroxidase-positive spermatozoa at 1:5 and 1:80 dilutions diagnosed with SAT and IPT, respectively, may be considered as repeaters arising out of ASA. Furthermore, study also showed the presence of lower incidence of ASA positivity in other groups of animals (heifer

No abstract

No abstract

The present study was undertaken to comparatively study the various particulars in fresh, pre-freeze and post-thaw stage across the season in indigenous breed Tharparkar. A total of 60 ejaculates, 30 each of winter and summer (mass motility ≥3+, initial motility ≥70%) were collected from three bulls (20 from each bull). Part of fresh ejaculate was centrifuged and seminal plasma was used for estimation of TSPP while the sperm pellet was used for the estimation of extent of LPO. Rest of the sample was diluted with Tris-fructose-egg yolk-citrate, equilibrated and frozen by the standard procedure. The total semen volume was significantly (p<0.01) higher in summer (4.45±0.18 ml) as compared to winter season (3.56±0.22 ml). However the levels of total seminal plasma proteins (TSPP) in fresh semen were similar in both winter (10.02±0.66 g dl-1) and summer (9.75±0.19 g dl-1) seasons. TSPP were also found to be negatively correlated with concentration (r=-0.39), mass activity (r=-0.47), initial progressive motility (r=-0.29) and livability of sperm (r=-0.29) in winter season and positively correlated with LPO (r=0.39). Mean pre-freeze and post-thaw motility in winter and summer season did not differ significantly. A significantly (p<0.01) lower values of LPO were estimated in winter (4.26±0.07 n mol 10 8-1 spermatozoa) than in summer (4.48±0.07 n mol 10 8-1 spermatozoa) season at post-thaw stage. The levels of LPO in winter and summer were similar at fresh and pre-freeze stages but differed significantly at the post thaw stage suggesting that this parameter may act as an indicator for assessment of damages rendered to spermatozoa by the freeze-thaw cycle. LPO levels were found to be negatively correlated with concentration (r=-0.57), mass activity (r=-0.6), initial progressive motility (r=-0.79) and live per cent (r=-0.79) at fresh stage in both seasons Tharparkar, lipid peroxidation, season, seminal plasma protein, spermatozoa 1356