Effect of Pergonal® Administration on Semen Characteristics, Hormonal Profile and Biochemical Constituents of the Seminal Plasma of Mature Yankasa Rams

Abstract

Twenty–four Yankasa rams aged 2 – 2.5 years and weighed between 30.50 and 30.60kg were randomly distributed into 4 groups of 6 animals per group and used to determine the effect of Pergonal^® on semen characteristics, hormonal profile and biochemical constituents of seminal plasma. The doses were 0.00, 0.33, 0.66 and 0.99ml Pergonal ^(R) represented as T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ respectively. The group that received 0.00 ml Pergonal^(R) served as the control. All the treatments were administered within 3days by intramuscular injection. The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups in semen characteristics. Rams that received 0.66ml Pergonal had the highest values in semen volume (1.60 ml), mass motility (4.0), individual motility (95%), semen pH (7.0), sperm concentration (0.78 x10⁶/ml), proportion of live (87.25%) and normal (85.10%) sperm cells respectively. Rams on 0.66ml also had the least dead sperm cells (12.75%). There were also significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups in their hormonal profiles. Rams on 0.66ml had the highest values in follicle stimulating hormone (12.80nd/ml) and luteinizing hormone (5.16ng/ml) while rams on the control had highest testosterone level (14.21ng/ml) in the serum. The results further showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) among the treatment groups and that rams on 0.66ml had the highest values in urea 42.20mg/dl), glycerlyphosphorylcholine (2.0mg/dl), ascorbic acid (8.0mg/dl), sodium (48mmol/L), potassium (5.85mmol/L), bicarbonate (26.0mmol/L) and fructose (490mmol/L) levels in the seminal plasma. The results of this study showed that Pergonal treatment enhanced sperm quality and was not detrimental to the hormonal profile and biochemical constituents of the seminal plasma of the Yankasa rams.