title: Seminal plasma lactoferrin but not transferrin reflects gonadal function in dogs.
abstract: Lactoferrin purified from canine seminal plasma by a three-step chromatography procedure had a molecular mass of 75.2 kDa and cross-reacted with antiserum to equine seminal plasma lactoferrin. Seminal plasma lactoferrin concentrations were determined by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) by using rabbit anti-equine lactoferrin antibody and alkaline phosphatase-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody in 14 normal dogs and found to range from 12 to 197 micro g/ml, with a mean value of 77 +/- 59 micro g/ml (the mean +/- SD). Seminal plasma transferrin concentrations were determined by a sandwich ELISA with goat antibody to canine serum transferrin and alkaline phosphatase-conjugated goat anti-canine transferrin antibody and found to range from 0.32 to 12.6 micro g/m l, with a mean value of 2.44 +/- 3.25 micro g/m l. The lactoferrin concentration significantly correlated with the sperm concentration (r=0.7025, P<0.01), but there was no significant correlation between the seminal plasma transferrin concentration and sperm density. These results indicate that seminal plasma lactoferrin, but not transferrin, reflects gonadal function.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Theriogenology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizoroki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohiwa
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orino
authors.forename: Yohji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohnami
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014168:Transferrin; D007781:Lactoferrin