Influence of season on seminal antioxidant enzymes in Karan Fries bulls under tropical climatic conditions

Abstract

Availability of good quality semen is very crucial for sustainable development of the dairy sector throughout the year. Seminal antioxidant status plays an important role for sperm viability, acrosomal integrity, and motility and emerges as a prognostic tool for assisted reproductive technology. The present study was designed to evaluate the seminal antioxidant enzyme concentrations in Karan Fries bulls during different seasons. Five adult healthy Karan Fries (Bos indicus × Bos taurus) bulls were selected from the the Animal Breeding Research Centre of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. Weekly ejaculates were collected using an artificial vagina (42-45 °C). The total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase were increased (P < 0.05) during the hot humid season compared to the winter and spring seasons. Malondialdehyde concentrations were also increased (P < 0.05) during the hot humid and hot dry seasons and positively correlated with major abnormalities (r = 0.478), while negatively correlated with sperm concentration (r = -0.257) and hypoosmotic swelling test (r = -0.359). The results indicate insufficiency of antioxidant enzyme concentrations to sustain the semen quality during the summer (hot humid and hot dry) season.