title: Relationship between seminal plasma lactoferrin and gonadal function in horses.
abstract: Total 78 semen samples were obtained from 27 Thoroughbred stallions (aged 6 to 27 years), and were subjected to quantification of lactoferrin (Lf) in seminal plasma and examination of the seminal properties. The seminal plasma Lf concentration varied from 21 to 689 microg/ml, with a mean value of 244 +/- 151 microg/ml (S.D.). The seminal plasma Lf concentration and total seminal plasma Lf positively correlated with the sperm concentration (r=0.5938, P<0.001) and with the total sperm number (r=0.6959, P<0.001), respectively. There was no correlation between seminal plasma Lf and sperm motility. These results suggest that seminal plasma Lf 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: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takao
authors.forename: Nanako
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tokuda
authors.forename: Yohji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohnami
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orino
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013076:Sperm Count
chemical_list: D007781:Lactoferrin