Abstract :
This study was conducted to determine the relationship between seminal plasma arginase
activity and spermatological parameters in bucks. In this study, 5 ejaculates were collected
by artificial vagina from each of 5 Saanen bucks of proven fertility. Spermatological
parameters (semen volume, semen pH, mass sperm activity, sperm motility and concentration
and percentage abnormal sperm) were evaluated immediately after collection in
each ejaculate. After semen collection, samples were centrifuged and stored at −20 ◦C for
analysis of the arginase activity. The mean level seminal plasma arginase activity recorded
was 0.87±0.12 units/mg protein. There existed a positive correlation between the seminal
plasma arginase activity and sperm mass activity (r = 0.548, p < 0.01), sperm motility
(r = 0.408, p < 0.05) and sperm concentration (r = 0.793, p < 0.01); However, a negative correlationwasrecorded
between seminal plasma arginase activity and the percentage abnormal
sperm (r =−0.427, p < 0.05). This study suggests that a significant correlation exists between
seminal plasma arginase activity and certain spermatological parameters. Therefore, seminal
plasma arginase activity may be used as a biochemical criterion to determine sperm
quality in bucks.
