The effect of oxytocin and prostaglandin hormones added tosemen on stallion sperm quality

Authors: ÇİĞDEM ÇEBİ ŞEN, ERGUN AKÇAY

Abstract: Prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) and oxytocin have been used to improve reproductive performance in many mammalian species, including humans. The aim of the present study was to determine their effects on sperm quality when extended stallion semen was enriched with PGF_2α or oxytocin. In this study, 16 healthy adult stallions, each 15-22 years old, were used. Five ejaculates from each stallion were collected with an artificial vagina during breeding season. Thereafter, gel-free semen was divided into 7 aliquots and diluted with an INRA96 semen extender. The following different treatments were evaluated: 3 with only PGF_2α (10, 20, and 40 μg/mL) and 3 with only oxytocin (2, 3, and 4 IU/mL). Sperm quality was evaluated before and after applying the different treatments. In vitro addition of oxytocin to semen did not show improvement in any of the sperm quality parameters measured. However, sperm supplementation with 40 μg of PGF_2α caused a significant increase (P < 0.05) in diluted semen motility. We concluded that the addition of PGF_2α to elder stallions' semen may help maintain sperm motility. Future research might assess the effects of PGF_2α on fertility. Our results were based on in vitro evaluations, and thus further fertility trials are required.

Keywords: Oxytocin, prostaglandin, semen, stallion

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