INFLUENCE OF AGE ON SEMEN QUALITY AND HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE DROMEDARY CAMELS TESTES | ||
| Journal of the Egyptian Veterinary Medical Association | ||
| Volume 80, Issue 1, June 2020, Pages 93-116 PDF (509.53 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Research Articles | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Two experiments were carried out through the period from January to April 2019. Fifteen Fellahi camel bulls were used in the present work. Animals were divided into three groups according to their ages (five each). The age of the camels in the first (G1), second (G2) and third groups (G3) was <5 to 11, < 11 to17 and <17 to 23 years, respectively. Semen was collected using an artificial vagina (AV). Copulation time, semen characteristics, sperm mensuration and histological changes of the testes were recorded (Experiment 1). Semen was extended with Lactose-yolk-citrate (LYC) extender and stored at 5 oC. Sperm penetration into she-camel cervical mucus was recorded, during incubation at 37ºC in different ages of the camels (Experiment 2). The results revealed that, copulation time (mins) and semen ejaculate-volume (ml) were significantly (P<0.05) better in the first and second groups than third group. Semen colour was creamy white in the first and second groups and milky white in the third group. Moreover, semen consistency was viscous in the first and second groups, while semi-viscous in the third group. Seminal pH value and sperm mensuration (µm) were insignificantly differences among groups. Percentage of sperm motility and sperm-cell concentration (x 106/ ml) were significantly (P<0.05) higher, while the percentages of dead spermatozoa, abnormal spermatozoa, acrosome damage and chromatin damage of the camel spermatozoa in the first and second groups were significantly (P<0.05) lower than the third group. Testes of the camels in the first and second groups showed more numerous seminiferous tubules (ST) than the third group. This ST lined by spermatogenic cells of different maturation stages (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa) are present and highly active of the camels in the first and second groups as compared to third group (Experiment 1). The percentages of sperm motility and storagability were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the first and second groups, however the percentages of dead spermatozoa, abnormal spermatozoa, acrosome damage and chromatin damage of sperm were significantly (P<0.05) lower in the first and second groups than the third group, during storage at 5 oC (Experiment 2). The advancement of storage time at 5°C caused significantly (P<0.05) decreased the percentages of sperm motility and storagability, while significantly (P<0.05) increased the percentages of dead spermatozoa, abnormal spermatozoa, acrosome damage and chromatin damage of spermatozoa in all groups. The penetrating ability of spermatozoa into she-camel cervical mucus was significantly (P<0.05) better in the first and second groups than the third group. The advancement of incubation at 37ºC for 4 hours was significantly (P<0.05) decreased the penetrating ability of spermatozoa into she-camel cervical mucus in all groups. In conclusion, copulation time, semen characteristics, sperm mensuration, histological changes in the testes and penetration score were superior in the first and second groups than the third group of the dromedary camels. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Dromedary camel; Semen characteristics; Mensuration; Testes histology; Penetration score | ||
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