title: Effect of melatonin implantation to sperm donor rams on post-thaw viability and acrosomal integrity of sperm cells in the breeding and non-breeding season.
abstract: The influence of melatonin administration to sperm donors on the freezability of ram semen and enzyme leakage through sperm cells during different steps of the cryopreservation process were evaluated in the breeding and non-breeding season. Melatonin implantation to rams in the breeding season improved post-thaw sperm viability and intact acrosome rates without influencing the motility rate (p < 0.05). Likewise, the post-thaw alkaline phosphatase release through sperm cells was significantly lower in the melatonin-treated group in comparison with untreated controls (p < 0.05). In the non-breeding season, melatonin administration enhanced intact acrosome rates (p < 0.05) and reduced aspartate aminotransferase activity (p < 0.05) post-thaw in the offseason ejaculates. Melatonin implantation twice in the breeding and non-breeding season did not produce any further improvement in the post-thaw sperm parameters in the non-breeding season ejaculates. It was concluded that melatonin administration to sperm donors improved freezability of ram semen collected from these rams and reduced enzyme leakage through sperm cells during cryopreservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Selçuk, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baspinar
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ataman
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004343:Drug Implants; D005298:Fertility; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012621:Seasons; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004343:Drug Implants; D008550:Melatonin