BLOOD SERUM TESTOSTERONE LEVEL AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE AND SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS IN NILI-RAVI BUFFALO BULLS

M. SAJJAD, S. ALI, N. ULLAH¹, M. ANWAR¹, S. AKHTER AND S. M. H. ANDRABI¹  

Department of Zoology, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi,¹ Animal Reproduction Programme, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

        This study was aimed at determining the blood serum testosterone level and its relationship with scrotal circumference and physical characteristics of semen in Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls. Semen samples were collected weekly from three buffalo bulls of 14 years age for 12 weeks and were evaluated for physical characteristics i.e. ejaculatory volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, pH and sperm abnormalities. Jugular blood samples were collected from each bull at weekly intervals and analyzed for serum testosterorse concentrations. Mean (+ SE) blood serum  testosterone level (ng/ml), scrotal circumference (cm), semen volume (ml), progressive sperm motility (%), sperm concentration (10⁶/µl), semen pH and total sperm abnormalities (%) observed  were  0.69 ± 0.12, 34.6 ± 0.9, 3.59 ± 0.41, 51.53 ± 2.23, 0.99 ± 0.07, 7.01 ± 0.08 and 11.67 ± 0.90, respectively. Positive correlations between testosterone level and scrotal circumference (r=0.414) and ejaculatory volume (r=0.348) were observed. However, no correlation of testosterone level with sperm motility (r=0.145), sperm concentration (r=0.264), semen pH (r=-0.208) and total sperm abnormalities (r=-0.242) was found. Similary, ejaculatory volume did not show any correlation with sperm motility percentage (r=0.115), sperm concentration (r=0.045), semen pH (r=-0.015) and total sperm abnormalities (r=-0.135). Sperm motility percentage had positive correlation with sperm concentration (r=0.347) and negative correlation with semen pH (r=-0.670). Sperm concentration was negatively correlated with semen pH (r=-0.501).  It was concluded that in 14 years old buffalo bulls the level of serum testosterone and scrotal circumference and ejaculatory volume were positively correlated. The other semen quality parameters including sperm motility, sperm concentration, semen pH and sperm abnormalities were not related with serum testosterone level. 

Key words: Buffalo bulls, testosterone level, semen characteristics, scrotal circumference.