Changes of fructose concentrations in seminal plasma and glucose and testosterone concentrations in blood plasma in rams over the course of a year

Abstract

The present study was performed to examine seasonal changes in the fructose concentrations of seminal plasma and glucose and testosterone concentrations of blood plasma over the course of a year (from November 2004 to November 2005) using 5 Suffolk rams. Osmolality of the seminal plasma was also measured. The fructose concentrations in the seminal plasma increased as the breeding season approached, with the maximum in October (179.8 mg/dl) and the minimum in May (6.9 mg/dl), although there were no significant differences during the year. Osmolality of the seminal plasma in February (304 mOsm) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than in January (325 mOsm), July (327 mOsm), and August (325 mOsm). It was also significantly (P<0.05) lower in November (308 mOsm) than in January and August. The blood plasma glucose concentration in October (79.3 mg/dl) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in January and February (43.2 and 43.7 mg/dl, respectively). The blood plasma testosterone (T) concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) higher in September (8.5 ng/ml) and October (10.2 ng/ml) than in other months. The fructose concentrations in the seminal plasma appeared to be related to the glucose and T concentrations in the blood plasma. These results show that fructose concentrations in the seminal plasma and blood plasma glucose and T concentrations tended to increase during the breeding season, with the highest concentrations in October.