SOLAR EXPOSURE REDUCES PLASMA TESTOSTERONE CONCENTRATIONS, SPERM QUALITY AND FERTILITY IN MALE GOATS FROM SUBTROPICAL LATITUDES

L.M. Tejada, O.U. Garcia-Cruz, L.E. Nava-Rivera, D. Lopez-Magaña, H. Hernandez, N. Lopez-Magaña, M. Keller, P. Chemineau, J. Santiago-Moreno, Jose Alberto Delgadillo

Abstract


Background. In subtropical latitudes, where goats are typically raised in rangeland conditions, daily solar radiation may strongly impair reproductive activity in male goats, thus decreasing their fertility. Objective. To assess the effects of solar radiation on plasma testosterone concentrations, sperm production and fertility in well-nourished male goats over the course of 1 year. Methodology. Control males were kept in a shaded pen (n = 5), whereas the solar-exposed males remained in an unshaded pen exposed to direct solar radiation (n = 5). In experiment 1, plasma testosterone concentrations and sperm production were measured. In experiment 2, fertility of solar-exposed and control males was determined when joined with anestrous female goats. Results. Plasma testosterone concentrations varied over time (P < 0.0001), and there was an interaction between time and the groups of bucks (P < 0.001). In solar-exposed males, testosterone concentrations were lower than controls in June, September, December and January (P < 0.05). The total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate and progressive sperm motility varied over time (P < 0.0001), but there was no interaction between time and groups (P > 0.05). The percentage of live spermatozoa and the percentage of cells with abnormalities varied over time (P < 0.0001), and there was an interaction between time and treatment group (P < 0.0001). In solar-exposed males, the percentages of live spermatozoa were lower than controls in June, August, November and December, while in May, this percentage was higher in solar-exposed males than in controls (P < 0.05). The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was higher in solar-exposed males than in controls from June to December (P < 0.001). The percentage of females that kidded was lower in those joined with the solar-exposed (48%) compared with those joined with control males (79%; P < 0.001). Implications. Providing shade reduces the negative effects of solar radiation on sperm quality and buck’s fertility. Conclusion. Daily exposure to solar radiation deeply altered reproductive activity of bucks. Testosterone concentrations, qualitative sperm production and fertility, were much lower in solar-exposed bucks compared to the control bucks kept under shade. 

Keywords


caprine; reproductive seasonality; sexual behavior; sperm production; heat stress; subtropics; endocrine activity; solar exposition.

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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v28i2.62416

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.6241

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