title: Effect of season on scrotal circumference, semen characteristics, seminal plasma composition and spermatozoa motility during liquid storage in INRA180 rams.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of seasons on scrotal circumference, semen characteristics, seminal plasma composition, and sperm motility during liquid storage of INRA180 rams. The semen was collected from five mature INRA180 rams (2-3 years of age) during one year (from April 2014 to March 2015). Scrotal circumferences, semen characteristics, some biochemical parameters of seminal plasma were evaluated. Immediately after collection and evaluation, the semen was pooled and extended in skim milk (SM) at 15°C to reach 0.8×109 spermatozoa/ml. Thereafter, samples were evaluated at different storage times (0, 8, and 24h). The results showed that scrotal circumference, semen quality and the concentration of total protein in seminal plasma were relatively constant during the year (P>0.05). However, total lipid and cholesterol concentrations increased significantly (P<0.001) in winter and summer. The result showed also that progressive motility was higher in winter and summer after 24h of storage (P<0.01). In contrast, no difference was recorded regarding total motility (P>0.05). To conclude, the INRA180 rams have the ability to produce semen with high quality all over the year. The only parameters showing seasonal variations are cholesterol, total lipid, and progressive motility.
authors.affiliation: INRA-Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de Settat, BP589, Settat, Morocco; Laboratoire d'agroalimentaire et santé, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Hassan1, BP 577, 26000 Settat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Anass
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benmoula
authors.affiliation: INRA-Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de Settat, BP589, Settat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abdelmoughit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badi
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Division Scientifique, Département de la Production Animale, BP 415 RP, Avenue Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Moussa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Fadili
authors.affiliation: INRA-Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de Settat, BP589, Settat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Kaoutar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El Khalil
authors.affiliation: INRA-Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de Settat, BP589, Settat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Larbi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Allai
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'agroalimentaire et santé, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Hassan1, BP 577, 26000 Settat, Morocco.
authors.forename: Abderaouf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Hilali
authors.affiliation: INRA-Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique de Settat, BP589, Settat, Morocco. Electronic address: bouchraelamiri@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Bouchra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: El Amiri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D012611:Scrotum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012621:Seasons; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: INRA180 ram; Liquid storage; Seasonal variations; Semen characteristics; Seminal plasma; Testicular circumference