Use of biochemical and protein profiles of seminal plasma to prediction of semen quality and fertility in stallions.

The article presents research into how the protein and biochemical content of semen can be used to predict semen quality and fertility in stallions.

Objective and Methodology

• The research aimed to determine if electrophoretic protein profiles (EPP) and biochemical parameters (BP) in seminal plasma (the fluid portion of semen) could serve as indicators of semen quality and fertility in stallions.
• The study involved 46 ejaculates collected from seven fertile stallions aged between six to 26 years during the months of May to July.
• A total of 117 mares were used to gather fertility data.
• Each ejaculate was analyzed for volume, sperm motility, and concentration. Seminal plasma samples were then evaluated using one-dimensional electrophoresis and biochemical profiling.
• Following estrus detection, mares were inseminated with fresh sperm, and pregnancy and foal rates were recorded.

Findings

• The study found a positive correlation between sperm concentration and proteins of 15-18 kilodaltons (kDa) and 23-28 kDa molecular weight (MW), and the foal rate, meaning that a higher sperm concentration corresponded to a higher amount of these proteins and a higher foal rate.
• The volume of 19-22 kDa MW proteins was negatively correlated with pregnancy and foal rate, indicating that higher volumes of these proteins could be associated with lower fertility.
• High MW proteins (173-385 kDa) were negatively correlated with sperm motility and foal rate, suggesting these high MW proteins could be detrimental to semen quality and fertility in stallions.
• Biochemical findings showed that while magnesium and glucose levels were negatively correlated with sperm quality and foal rate, cholesterol level was a positive indicator of good quality semen and higher foaling rates.
• Total protein level was negatively correlated with sperm concentration, while triglyceride was correlated positively, suggesting that these biochemical markers could also serve as predictors of stallion fertility and semen quality.

Conclusion

• The research concludes that electrophoretic protein profile (EPP) and biochemical parameters (BP) in seminal plasma can be useful clinical tools for predicting fertility and semen quality in stallions.