title: Coenzyme Q10 levels in pigeon (Columba livia) spermatozoa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the CoQ10 levels in pigeon spermatozoa and to verify their possible correlation with spermatic kinetic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  In pigeons the sperm motility percentage (MOT%), mean linear velocity (VCM) and morphology were determined in ejaculated semen. In addition intracellular CoQ10 concentrations were also detected with a HPLC method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intracellular CoQ10 levels demonstrated wide individual variations, averaging 4.85 +/- 2.31 (SD) ng/106 spermatozoa. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation of the substance with the sperm concentration (r= 0.63; P<0.05) and with the VCM (r=0.66; P<0.05), and a negative correlation with the MOT% (r = -0.78; P=0.01). No correlation was found between the CoQ10 concentration and the percentage of normal spermatozoa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a possible role for CoQ10 as a "fertility marker" in pigeons, which may be employed to monitor the pharmacological effects of cytostatic substances often used to reduce the pigeon fertility in urban environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Veterinary Physiology, University of Pisa, Italy. mducci@vet.unipi.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ducci
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazzano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sighieri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D003067:Coenzymes; D010856:Columbidae; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003067:Coenzymes; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10