Seasonal variations in testicular imaging, hemodynamic patterns, semen quality, hormonal, nitric oxide levels, and antioxidant profiles in male camel (Camelus dromedaries)
摘要
The changing length of days acts as evidence for animals to align their behavior, influencing their hormone production and preparing them for the seasonal changes. The current study aimed to examine the seasonal alterations in the testicular blood flow, semen quality, hormonal levels, and biochemical aspects in eight camels. Semen with seminal plasma collection, ultrasound and Doppler examination, blood collection, and hormonal measurement were performed for 6 months. This period was classified as three hottest months and three coolest ones. The temperature humidity index (THI) was estimated and considered ≥ 25.8. Estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were measured in both serum and seminal plasma. Analysis of results revealed that motility (%) and sperm cell concentration (SCC) were significantly (P < 0.01) decreased during heat stress (HS), with an elevation of both testicular artery Doppler indices of resistance and pulsatility indices (RI and PI). The following variables were considerably (P < 0.05) reduced with HS: testicular volume (cm3), testicular echogenicity (TE), pixel heterogeneity (PH), testicular blood flow volume (TBFV), testicular blood flow rate (TBFR), and testicular colored areas (TCA). E2, T, and NO were lowered during HS compared to the coolest months. During HS, serum levels of SOD and CAT increased, whereas seminal plasma levels decreased. It could be concluded that the marked increase in Doppler indices (RI and PI) with a decline in TBFV and TBFR during the hottest months could be related to the decline of SOD and CAT in seminal plasma and their elevation in serum at the same period in male camels, as those markers could predict the animal’s sperm output.