Seminal plasma lactoferrin but not transferrin reflects gonadal function in dogs.
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.
Kikuchi
Motohiro
M
Laboratory of Theriogenology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, Japan.
Mizoroki
Shohei
S
Kubo
Takashi
T
Ohiwa
Yoshiko
Y
Kubota
Miho
M
Yamada
Naoki
N
Orino
Koichi
K
Ohnami
Yohji
Y
Watanabe
Kiyotaka
K
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*
D014168:Transferrin; D007781:Lactoferrin