title: Seminal selenium concentrations and spermatozoal abnormalities in beef bulls.
abstract: The relationship between seminal selenium (Se) concentration and spermatozoal abnormalities in 24 Angus and 12 Simmental bulls maintained on a Se adequate diet was studied. Two semen samples were collected by electroejaculation 50 days apart from each bull. Measurements of primary and secondary spermatozoal abnormalities, seminal Se concentration, and blood plasma Se concentration were determined at each semen collection. The mean (chi +/- SD ) Se concentration of semen (0.535 +/- 0.267) was approximately 8 fold greater than the Se concentration of blood plasma (0.069 +/- 0.066) and the values were similar for both collections. Spermatozoa concentration was correlated (r = 0.50; P<.01) with seminal Se concentration; however, seminal Se concentration was not highly correlated (P<.01) with primary spermatozoal abnormalities (r = -0.29) and secondary spermatozoal abnormalities (r = 0.16). This study indicates that the Se concentration of semen is high relative to blood plasma in bulls maintained on a Se adequate diet; however, the seminal Se concentration is not highly correlated with spermatozoal abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Heimann
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Elmore
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Morrow