[Physiological Relationship of Erythrocyte Antigens with Indicators of Horse Spermiogram].

This research paper discusses the potential connection between erythrocyte antigens in blood group systems of horses and the characteristics of horse semen, also known as “spermogram”. The study indicates that certain alleles in the blood group system may influence semen activity and concentration, with the D blood group system alleles having the strongest correlation.

Understanding the Physiological Relationship

• The main objective of the research is to examine the possible link between erythrocyte antigens in horses’ blood group systems, specifically in the A, C, D, K alleles, with key parameters in a horse’s spermogram. Here, the study is trying to identify genetic links between blood characteristics and reproductive traits in horses.
• The paper states that a physiological tendency of decreased semen activity was found when ad/bcm and dg/cgm alleles of the D blood group system were analyzed. The semen activity in this case was less than 5 points on average.
• On the contrary, certain other combinations of alleles in the D system were associated with average quality spermogram which boasted semen activity ranging from 5 to 7 points.
• High parameters of semen activity, more than 7 points, were observed in the presence of bcm/cgm, dg/dk, de/d, egm/d, and cgm/de alleles.

Semen Concentration and Blood Group Alleles

• The research found that horses with a/- allele in the C blood group showed an increase in semen concentration. This denotes a positive correlation between the presence of a/- allele in the C blood group and semen concentration in horses.
• Conversely, horses with a/- allele in the K blood group showed a possible decrease in semen concentration. This suggests that there could be a negative impact on semen concentration from the a/- allele in the K blood group.

Statistical Impact of Blood Group System D

• The D blood group system alleles had the highest statistical impact on multiple semen characteristics. The correlation coefficient for the ejaculate volume, semen activity, concentration, and number of pathological forms of semen were 0.36, 0.31, 0.43 and 0.27, respectively.
• These findings suggest that the D blood group system alleles have a significant influence on the aforementioned parameters of the spermogram.

Correlation with Other Blood Group Systems

• It was found that the alleles of the A, C, and K blood group systems had a correlation coefficient of not more than 0.07 with the examined parameters of semen.
• This lower correlation coefficient indicates that while there may be some connection between these blood group systems and semen characteristics, the link is not as strong as with the D blood group system alleles.