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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 6
| Issue : 6 | Page : 268-278 |
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Seasonal effect on physiological, reproductive and fertility profiles in breeding mithun bulls
P Perumal1, N Savino2, CTR Sangma2, MH Khan1, E Ezung1, S Chang1, TZT Sangtam2
1 ICAR- National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland-797106, India
2 NU-School of Agricultural Science and Rural Development, Medziphema, Nagaland-797106, India
| Date of Submission | 15-Sep-2017 |
| Date of Decision | 27-Sep-2017 |
| Date of Acceptance | 15-Oct-2017 |
| Date of Web Publication | 01-Nov-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
P Perumal
Animal Reproduction Laboratory, NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland-797106
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | 3 |
DOI: 10.4103/2305-0500.217342
Objective: To analyse the seasonal effect on physiological parameters, reproductive profiles and in vitro fertility in breeding mithun bulls. Methods: A total of ten adult mithun bulls age of 5 to 6 years old with good body condition (score 5-6) were selected from ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Jharnapani, Nagaland, India. The seasons were categorised into winter, spring, summer and autumn seasons based on the meteorological data and sunshine hours. The physiological parameters, reproductive profiles and in vitro fertility parameters were assessed during different seasons in mithun under the semi-intensive system of management. Results: The statistical analysis revealed that these experimental parameters were differed significantly (P<0.05) among the seasons and in overall spring and winter seasons were more beneficial in mithun breeding programme, although, the breeding in mithun occurred throughout the year with variation. Conclusions: It is concluded that collection & preservation of mithun semen and artificial insemination in mithun species during the season of spring and winter has significant beneficial effect in terms of semen production, freezability and fertility for artificial breeding programme in mithun under the semi-intensive system.
Keywords: Mithun, Seasonal effect, Physiological parameters, Reproductive and fertility parameters
How to cite this article:
Perumal P, Savino N, Sangma C, Khan M H, Ezung E, Chang S, Sangtam T. Seasonal effect on physiological, reproductive and fertility profiles in breeding mithun bulls. Asian Pac J Reprod 2017;6:268-78 |
How to cite this URL:
Perumal P, Savino N, Sangma C, Khan M H, Ezung E, Chang S, Sangtam T. Seasonal effect on physiological, reproductive and fertility profiles in breeding mithun bulls. Asian Pac J Reprod [serial online] 2017 [cited 2023 Mar 21];6:268-78. Available from: https://www.apjr.net/text.asp?2017/6/6/268/217342 |
| 1. Introduction | |  |
Mithun is a domestic free-range unique bovine primarily used for meat and is gift to the North Eastern Hilly states viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram of India. Measurement of testicular parameters has been used to assess the reproductive as well as the spermatogenic potentialities in post-pubertal breeding bulls[1],[2],[3]. Similarly measurement of parameters of scrotum is an important component in evaluation of breeding soundness, testicular growth, scrotal circumference, semen quality related attributes and endocrinological profiles of the breeding male in different livestock species[2],[4],[5],[6]. Scrotal circumference (SC) is one of the simple, reliable and repeatable method to measure the testicular size and its consistency, which is highly positive correlated with testicular weight, endocrinological profiles, semen quality and in vitro & in vivo fertility parameters[2],[7],[8]. Further, SC is significantly correlated with body weight, age and seasons in the year[9] and also has significant positive relationship with semen volume and sperm output per ejaculate and fertility in livestock species[2]. Moreover, the testicular size and SC provide valuable information on physical and physiological maturity of the breeding bulls, its semen production potentiality and the birth weight of its offspring[10].
The testicle and scrotum are highly sensitive to changing of the environmental temperature which in turn leads to degenerative changes, characterised by decreasing of the testicular size, change in its consistency and ultimately leads to poor production of semen[11]. Moreover, the heat stress can also reduce the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) which is essential for sperm production especially in spermatogenesis[12]. The temperature of testicle in mammals need to be 2 °C-6 °C less than temperature of somatic body and 33 °C-34 °C is the optimum testicular temperature for spermatogenesis in bovine species[13],[14]. Further, SC also varies with seasons and months[15]. External parameters such as seasonality, micro & macro climatic factor also influence the sexual function/ potential either through photoperiod (day length)[16] and/or through alteration in ambient environmental temperature[17]. Process of sperm production especially spermatogenesis is highly influenced to even little increases in temperature of scrotum as it has been reported in exotic cattle (Bos taurus) breeding sires that were kept in temperate tropical regions of the world[18] and a considerable amount of investigation has been dedicated to the research studies on scrotal circumference and semen quality in bulls are associated with variations in relative ambient temperature as well as humidity and/or seasons in tropical continent. For instances, exotic/European (Bos taurus) breeding bulls have been reported that the reduced sperm production & output were observed during late summer and midwinter, simultaneously with presence of the significantly highest percentages of different sperm abnormalities whereas thermal tolerance capacity of local indigenous (Bos indicus) cattle is better than European exotic cattle (Bos taurus), suggested good quality semen as well as minimum sperm abnormalities were observed in their ejaculates[19]. Furthermore, the semen production, its quality & preservability and/or survivability of sperm in refrigerated[20],[21] and/or in frozen-thawed semen is lowest in summer seasons/month than in winter/spring season[22],[19]. Similarly, the age of the breeding bull has significant roles in these relationships as young breeding bulls are highly affected than aged ones in the tropical regions[2]. Species/breeds and their inherent capability to acclimatise to semitropical or tropical environments is also another important variable that determine whether ambient relative temperature and/or relative humidity may influence the reproduction of the breeding bulls[19]. Even though, European cattle, Bos taurus suffers significantly in the alteration of seasons in a tropical and sub-tropical environments, such effects were not observed in indigenous cattle, Bos indicus under the similar management and environmental conditions[19],[23],[24]. Moreover, it has been recorded that European bulls have lowered sperm production, its quality and fertility than Zebu bulls under the similar tropical climatic and environmental conditions[25],[26] and oxidative stress (ROS) might be one of the major reasons for the reduction of fertility[27].
Relative environmental temperature as well as photo period (day length) are the two major important factors to determine the seasonality and secretory pattern of different reproductive as well as metabolic hormones and also are differed among the different seasons in breeding bubaline bulls. Similarly, higher relative environmental temperature as well as longer photo periods has reduced the melatonin secretion i.e., shot day breeder, in-turn which stimulate secretory pattern of the hormone, prolactin from adenohypophysis and the prolactin hormone inhibits the production of other reproductive hormones mainly GnRH from master gland hypothalamus and LH & follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from adenohypophysis in summer season[28] than in winter[29] and improper secretion/imbalance between of these hormones in turn to higher reaction time and poor sex libido, poor semen production and its quality parameters. Moreover, LH/ICSH secretion is also decreased leads to lower androgen (testosterone) production and improper sperm maturity and motility & fertility. The production of androgen is higher during cool evening & night and has been decreased in day time as due to the functionality of Leydig cells has been increased in cooler than in hot time (heat stress)[30]. Correlation between plasma testosterone, scrotal circumference and body weight indicates that these parameters can be used in the assessment of testicular functional[31].
Several researchers have been broadly investigated the scrotal &testicular growth, endocrinological profiles, semen quality parameters and in vivo & in vitro fertility in association to variation in season in different livestock species but with the present knowledge, meagre information available in Bos frontalis species. Therefore, the present study was proposed with the objective to assess the seasonal variation on scrotal circumference and its association with endocrinological profiles, semen quality parameters & antioxidant profiles and in vitro fertility in mithun species.
| 2. Materials and methods | | |
2.1. Area of study
The present investigation was carried out at the mithun breeding farm, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland, India, which is located between 25°54′′30′′ North latitude and 93°44′15′ East longitude and at an altitude range from 250-300 m mean sea level. The biometeorological factors, relative ambient temperature and relative humidity values were received from the meteorology station, ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Nagaland Centre, located at close proximity of the experimental station for estimation of temperature humidity index (THI). The ambient thermal data were analysed to understand the true climatic condition of the experimental station where the experimental mithuns were kept for research purpose in semi-intensive system of rearing by the research institute. Seasons wise and month wise THI was estimated for five whole calendar years and the season has been grouped in to four season viz. spring (February to April), summer (May to July), autumn (August to October) and winter (November to January) [Table 1].
2.2. Experimental animals
A total of ten healthy mithun bulls of ~5 to 6 yrs of age with good body condition (score 5-6) were selected from the mithun farm, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland, India and were maintained under similar housing, feeding and other managemental conditions. The experimental mithun bulls were fed in the present experiment as per the farm routine schedule. Experimental animal was received daily ad libitum drinking water, mixed jungle forages: 30 kg contained 18.40% dry matter and 10.20% crude protein and concentrates: 4 kg contained 87.10% dry matter and 14.50% crude protein and these were fortified with mineral mixture & salt.
2.3. Measurement of physiological parameters
Physiological responses such as rectal temperature (RT), respiration rate (RR), pulse rate (PR) and skin temperature (ST) were recorded at 4 hours interval (08:00, 12:00, 16:00, 20:00, 24:00 and 04:00) for 24 h as per the standard protocol.
2.4. Measurement of scrotal and testicular parameters
Scrotal circumference was estimated with the method explained by the Society of Theriogenology[33]. Scrotal and Testicular measurements were calculated with a vernier caliper (Mitutoya Digimatic Caliper, Japan) and measurement tape after proper controlling and restraining the experimental mithun bull in the control crate. The measurement tape was manually tightened with slight pressure on the scrotum and at the widest point was considered as scrotal circumference. Similarly the testicular length was estimated by placing the vernier caliper at the proximal and the distal end of the testes. The thickness was estimated by placing the vernier caliper at the maximum depth point. Width of testis was estimated by sliding the other testes up higher in the scrotum & placing the vernier caliper at the medial and lateral aspect, at the maximum width point. Testicular volume was estimated by using the following formula for volume of an ellipsoid, i.e., 4/3 π abc, where, c= length/2, a= thickness/2 and b= width/2[34]. Similarly the weight of the testes was estimated by multiplying volume with 1.038, which is the density of testicular tissue in bovine species[35]. SC, length, thickness, width, volume and weight of the left and right testis were estimated four times by the same livestock technician at winter, spring, summer & autumn seasons.
2.5. Collection of blood sample and hormone estimation
Blood samples were collected from jugular veinin heparin tubes (20 IU of heparin/mL of blood) at 04:00 hours interval from the mithun bulls throughout the day during the different seasons of the year. These blood samples were centrifuged at 3 000 rpm for 15 min. The blood plasma was separated rapidly, labelled properly and preserved at -80 °C in deep freezer for further utilization to analysis of the hormones.
FSH (analytical sensitivity, 0.1 mIU/mL; intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation, 6.47% and 9.54%, respectively) and luteinizing hormone (analytical sensitivity, 13 nmol/L; intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation, 5.15% and 8.31%, respectively) were estimated with commercially available ELISA kits (MBS033405, MBS9346806, MyBiosource, San Diego, CA, USA, respectively) by optical density ( λ =450 nm) in 96-well clear polypropylene microplate using a MRC microplate reader (UT- 2100C, Israel).
Hormonal parameters such as testosterone (analytical sensitivity, 0.02 ng/mL; intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation, 5.13% and 9.27%, respectively), cortisol (analytical sensitivity, 5 nM; intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation, 5.78% and 9.66%, respectively), thyroxine (analytical sensitivity, 10.63 nmol/L; intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation, 5.33% and 9.79%, respectively) and IGF-1 (analytical sensitivity, 4.55 ng/mL; intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation, 5.79% and 8.64%, respectively) were estimated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using the Packard Cobra II gamma counter employing RIA kits supplied by Immunotech, Marseille Cedex, France. All the hormonal profiles were estimated by RIA using a gamma counter (PC-RIA MAS; Stretec, Germany).
2.6. Semen collection and processing
A total numbers of 100 ejaculates (25 ejaculates from each season) were collected from the breeding mithun bulls (5-6 years) twice a week for four seasons. Semen was collected from the animals through trans-rectal massage method. In brief, seminal vesicles were gently and slowly massaged centrally and backwardly for 4-5 min followed by the gentle milking of ampullae one by one for 3-5 min, which in-turn to erection and ejaculation of semen[36]. During collection, the initial transparent secretions (seminal fluid) were discarded and neat semen drops (sperm rich) were collected in a graduated test tube with the help of a funnel. Immediately after collection, the ejaculate samples were kept in a water bath at 37 °C and evaluated for preliminary parameters such as volume, colour, consistency, mass activity and pH. After the initial evaluations, the samples were allowed to the initial dilution with pre-warmed (37 °C) standard bovine Tris-egg yolk-citrate extender (TEYC). The partially diluted semen samples were then brought to the semen laboratory in a cover insulated thermo flask containing warm water (37 °C) for further analysing and processing of the ejaculates. The diluted semen samples were chilled simultaneously from 37 °C to 5 °C at a speed rate of 0.2 °C/min-0.3 °C/min in a insulated cold cabinet (IMV, L'Aigle, France) and carefully maintained at 5 °C for 2 h. Semen filling polyvinyl chloride straws of capacity of 0.5 mL (IMV, L'Aigle, France) were filled, processed and maintained in a insulated cold cabinet at 5 °C for 2.5 h as the equilibration period. Subsequently, these semen filled straws were wipe-cleaned, dried and spread over the chilled freezing rack in cold cabinet. The freezing rack packed with straws were placed in biological programmable freezer for freezing (final temperature maintained at -124 °C, 12 min) followed by plunging of straws into the liquid nitrogen (-196 °C) container and were stored therein (semen storing cryo-container). At the time of evaluation, the stored semen straws were taken out of the cryocan and thawed in water at 37 °C for 30 s by using straw thawing kit (IMV, L'Aigle, France). The semen samples were processed and evaluated for seminal quality attributes, viz., total & progressive motility (Nikon, Eclipse 80i[37]), mobility and velocity parameters by computer assisted sperm analyser (CASA; Hamilton Thorne Sperm Analyser, version IVOS 11, Beverly, MA, USA), viability (Eosin and Nigrosin staining[37]), total sperm abnormality[37]), acrosomal integrity (Giemsa staining[38]), nuclear integrity (Fuelgen's staining[39]) & plasma membrane integrity (hypo osmotic swelling test: HOST[40]) were estimated with standardised protocols at post thawed stage. Release/leakage of intra-cellular enzyme of the sperm especially aspartate amino transaminase[41] and alanine amino transaminase[41] were measured in the seminal plasma by diagnostic kits. Lipid peroxidation level was estimated by determining the malondialdehyde production by using thiobarbituric acid and trichloroacetic acid as per the method described by Suleiman et al[42]. The reduced glutathione (GSH) (703002, Cayman Chemical Company), superoxide dismutase (706002, Cayman Chemical Company), catalase (707002, Cayman Chemical Company) and total antioxidant capacity (K247, BioVision) were estimated by ELISA kits as per the manufacturer's instruction.
2.7. In vitro fertility of spermatozoa
Heterologous (buffalo oocyte) zona-binding assay was carried out with the sperm after freezing-thawing with the method followed as per Fazeli et al[43]. Spermatozoa were co-incubated with oocytes for 18 h to 20 h and then the penetrated oocytes were washed and processed further for counting number of oocyte bound with spermatozoa (Binding per cent, and binding index). The variation was minimized by adopting the subjective scoring system in present study and each sample was evaluated by at least two co-authors and their average was analysed statistically. The binding index and binding per cent were calculated for the ejaculates collected in the different seasons.
2.8. Statistical analysis
The statistical analysis of the data was carried out as per standard methods[44]. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using a generalized liner model (Statistical Analysis System for Windows, SAS Version 9.3; SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, 2001) and treatment means were separated using Student-Newman-Kuels multiple range test. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated using standard procedure. Tables present the non-transformed data. The data used in the study were tested for normality before analysis using Shapiro Wilk statistics. The percent data were subjected to arcsine angular transformation before proceeding to general linear model. Differences with values of P<0.05 were considered to be statistically significant after arcsine transformation of percentage data.
| 3. Results | | |
Statistics of physiological profiles, scrotal circumference, semen quality parameters, CASA & biochemical profiles and in vitro zona binding index & percent of mithun semen and endocrinological profiles during different seasons were differed significantly (P<0.05) among the seasons and spring & winter seasons were more favourable than summer season for mithun reproduction and artificial breeding programme. In the present study, the results of study parameters of mithun were comparable with studies in other bovine species.
The physiological parameters were significantly (P<0.05) differed among the different time of the observations and seasons in mithun bulls. These parameters were significantly (P<0.05) higher in animals exposed to summer season followed by autumn and significantly lower in winter and spring seasons, but within the normal range of bovine species especially for mithun. Moreover, these parameters were significantly (P<0.05) higher in noon time than other times in different seasons in mithun. However, these values were within the range of the bovine species [Table 2]. | Table 2: Physiological profiles of mithun bulls at different seasons (mean±SME).
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An asymmetry between right and left testis in every individual male animal was observed. The SC was significantly (P<0.05) differed and significantly (P<0.05) highest value was observed in winter season followed by spring and lowest was observed in summer season [Figure 1]. The value of volume and concentration for winter, spring, summer and autumn seasons were (2.71±0.22), (2.25±0.57), (1.53±0.43) & (1.91±0.45) mL and (617.50±9.32), (643.73±7.26), (479.89±10.13) and (542.23±6.50)×106/mL, respectively and significantly (P<0.05) higher value in spring and winter than summer season was observed. The sperm morphological attributes were significantly (P<0.05) differed among the seasons and was significantly (P<0.05) higher in spring and lowest was observed in summer season in post thaw stage [Figure 2]. Similar pattern was observed for CASA parameters at post thawed semen [Table 3]. Average total sperm abnormalities was significantly (P<0.05) lower in spring than in summer season and also differed significantly (P<0.05) among the experimental seasons [Figure 2]. Similarly the GSH [Figure 3], catalase [Figure 4], superoxide dismutase [Figure 4] and total antioxidant capacity [Figure 5] were differed significantly (P<0.05) among the seasons and were significantly (P<0.05) higher in spring and lowest was in summer season whereas oxidative marker (malondialdehyde) production [Figure 6], intra- cellular enzymes, AST & ALT [Figure 7] were differed significantly (P<0.05) among the seasons and were significantly (P<0.05) lower in ejaculates collected from spring than in summer season in the present experiment. | Figure 1: Effect of seasons on scrotal circumference in mithun semen.
Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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 | Figure 2: Effect of seasons on post-thaw semen quality parameters in mithun semen.
TM: Total motility, VI: Viability, TSA: Total sperm abnormality, AI: Acrosomal integrity, HOST: Hypo osmotic swelling test (plasma membrane integrity) and NI: nuclear integrity.
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 | Table 3: CASA parameters of mithun semen at different seasons (mean±SME).
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 | Figure 3: Effect of seasons on post-thaw GSH in mithun semen (μmol).
Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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 | Figure 4: Effect of seasons on post-thaw catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mithun semen.
Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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 | Figure 5: Effect of seasons on post-thaw total antioxidant capacity activity in mithun semen.
Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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 | Figure 6: Effect of seasons on post-thaw malondialdehyde production in mithun semen.
Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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 | Figure 7: Effect of seasons on post-thaw aspartate amino transaminase (AST) and alanine amino transaminase (ALT) production in mithun semen.
Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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Blood samples were collected at 04:00 hours interval for the whole day and endocrinological profiles were calculated as an average of the six samples and similar pattern was followed for different seasons. The hormone profile, viz., FSH, LH, testosterone [Figure 8] and thyroxine [Figure 9] were significantly (P<0.05) higher and IGF-1 [Figure 9] and cortisol [Figure 9] were significantly (P<0.05) lower in spring and winter seasons than in summer season. Similarly, the the heterologus (buffalo) zona binding index and binding percent were significantly (P<0.05) higher for spermatozoa, were collected during spring &winter seasons than in summer season in mithun in the present experiment [Figure 10]. | Figure 8: Effect of seasons on FSH (mIU/mL), LH (mIU/mL) and testosterone (ng/mL) in mithun bulls.
Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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 | Figure 9: Effect of seasons on cortisol, thyroxine and IGF-1 in mithun semen.
Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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 | Figure 10. Effect of seasons on in vitro fertility parameters in mithun semen.
ZBP: Zona binding percent; ZBI: Zona binding index. Different letters (a, b, c, d) differ significantly (P<0.05).
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| 4. Discussion | | |
In the present study, physiological parameters, reproductive as well as the in vitro fertility parameters were significantly (P<0.05) higher and total sperm abnormalities, leakage of intra-cellular enzymes and lipid peroxide production in semen were significantly (P<0.05) lower in spring and winter than in summer seasons.
The physiological parameters such as RT, RR, PR and ST were significantly (P<0.05) increased in mithun during summer hot stress than in spring & winter seasons. Respiration rate was found to be affected to a greater extent followed by pulse rate and rectal temperature in bovine species. It has been reported that the RT and RR as the suggestive marker of stress in domestic livestock species[45],[46]. In caprine and bovine, similar report that RT and RR were increased as the animals were going to exercise, walking summer hot stress[47],[48]. Moreover, these values in the present study were comparable with the values reported in previous study of mithun species [RT: (99.30±0.10) F, PR: (62.11±0.50) beats/ min, RR: (27.09±0.54) beats/min, ST: (98.50±0.45), HR[49]]. Measurement of RR indirectly helps to estimate the heat production during the heat stress condition[50] and increased RR in mithuns may have more homeostatic relevance for the dissipation of excessive heat and the maintenance of a lower body temperature[51]. The RR was significantly (P<0.05) higher in stressed animal as it is required to maintain the thermoregulation of the body to normal physiological level[52]. Further, the energy level was reduced as increased respiratory muscular activity due to higher respiratory movements during stress to dissipate body heat during exposure to hot summer. The pulse rate reflects primarily the homeostasis of circulation along with the general metabolic status in livestock species[53]. Pulse rate has increased significantly (P<0.05) in summer season in the present study. This report was supported by the truth that there is a significant correlation between heart rate &metabolic heat production in high producing animals[54]. The ST was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the summer stressed group than winter unstressed group, but it was lower than the RT because the sweating leads to reduce the ST. Sweating rate has also been used to evaluate the response to heat stress in mammalian species like bovine, caprine and equine[55]. The report suggests that apart from relieving the heat through respiratory evaporative cooling, the animal also requires cutaneous evaporation to release the heat from the somatic body indicated the seriousness &severity of stresses on these animals as in physiological profiles. Further, it is also truth that RT acts as a suggestive indicator of different stresses factors in the sheep and other livestock species[56] as this can also be utilized in mithun species. The results of the present study was comparable with the reports in Hariana bullocks as reported by Yadav and Dhaka[57] and in Surungi bullocks as reported by Behera et al[58]. Similar findings were also reported in Kenkatha bullock by Tomar and Joshi[59], Atakare and Siddiqui[60] in Deoni bullocks, in Red Kandhari bullocks by Shelke and Siddiqui[61] and Singh and Nanavati[62] in crossbred bullocks.
In the present study, the statistics on scrotal circumference were grouped season-wise; the peak values were recorded during winter &spring season and lowest were during summer season. The present observation was in accordance with the reported works of Ahmad et al[63] and in general, the SC is varied with different seasons[15]. This might be due to the effect of high ambient relative temperature during summer season that causes thermal degeneration of testes and reduction of SC[24]. The observation in the present study was within the range of the earlier report by Perumal and Rajkhowa[2] in mithun species. Further, tunica albuginea adhesions may also occur during dry season in turn causing testicular degeneration and hypotrophy that can reduce SC without any significant clinical signs[11]. Further, it has been stated that the testes are extremely highly sensitive to high ambient temperature which causing degenerative changes, characterised by a reduction in testicular size, its consistency and SC[11]. It has been reported that the seminiferous tubules of testis comprises of 77% testicular volume[35] & higher environmental temperature have a severe adverse effects on these seminiferous tubules resulting into a smaller volume and size of the testes and therefore a smaller SC was observed in summer season[64]. Moreover, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadalaxis have been severely adversely affected by the high relative environmental temperature and high relative humidity as it has decreased the secretion of GnRH and leads to reduce the seminiferous tubule volume, causing reduction of circumference of scrotum[25]. In winter season, other factors such as green fodder availability, rich in vitamin A and minerals, that induces higher level of the plasma oestradiol, plays an important function in the activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis with an ultimate increase in the level of plasma testosterone, causing significantly higher activation and increment of spermatogenesis leads to an increase in size of testis and SC[35],[63].
The SQPs and CASA parameters were significantly (P<0.05) differed and ejaculate sample of winter and spring seasons has higher value than summer season. Similarly, the in vitro zona binding index and binding percent were significantly (P<0.05) differed and higher in ejaculates of spring &winter than in summer season and similar trend was also observed in in vivo fertility rate (birth rate) in mithun. The CASA parameter especially forward progressive motility, rapid velocity, straight line velocity, amplitude of lateral head displacement, straightness, linearity, beat cross frequency were significantly (P<0.05) higher and static velocity was significantly (P<0.05) lower in ejaculates collected in spring and winter season than in summer season and former two seasons have short day light. It is suggested that during this short day season/short photo period, the melatonin secretionis increased and protected the sperm, seminal antioxidant parameters, intra-cellular enzymes, velocity & mobility parameters by CASA, energy production potential by mitochondrial membrane potential along with stimulation of hypothalamus to secrete more GnRH followed by higher production of hormones of adenohypophysis and gonads lead to high semen production. Further, there may be high variation in secretion of melatonin and its concentration in mithun blood and seminal plasma throughout the year that could be partly explained the differences in sperm production, its quality and fertility reported between the different seasons[65] in Bos frontalis species. The concentration of melatonin in different seasons also suggested that higher values were seen in winter as well as in spring seasons than in summer hot stress season and thus may be the major reason, the semen from spring as well as winter season has significantly higher velocity &motility in the present study. Similarly, in mithun cows, short day/photoperiod may enhance the secretion of melatonin; which in turn stimulates GnRH secretion followed by expression of heat, breeding, higher conception and calving rate whereas in the present experiment, measurement of the concentration of melatonin and other reproductive hormones of female animals in different seasons were not done. The SQPs and CASA parameters were significantly and positively (P<0.05) correlated with in vitro fertility in the present research as reported by Park et al[66] that the motility parameters were strongly determines the IVF rates on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. These reports were clearly indicated that the season is one of the major important factors that have determined the differentiation in semen quality profiles and fertility rate in the present study[67] and a significant relationship was existed between scrotal &testicular parameters, semen quality attributes, hormonal profiles and breeding season in breeding male animals[68]. Further, the antioxidant and free radical profiles are also significantly determined by the seasons.
However, the capacity of heat tolerance as well as disease resistance of Bos indicus (indigenous cattle) is higher or better than Bos taurus (exotic cattle) bulls, characterized by higher values of SQPs & CASA parameters and lower values of total sperm abnormalities as reported[19].
The statistical results of the present experiment showed that the keeping quality as well as freezability of mithun semen were differed among the different seasons and were higher in spring& winter season than in summer season. But the as for the total sperm motility, it was declined in summer season than in winter &spring seasons. Similar reports were reported in indigenous Tharparkar cattle in tropical environmental condition of Indian subcontinent[ 19] that spring as well as winter seasons favour more total sperm motility as compared to summer season. Moreover, similar type report was also reported in other mountain animal species, yak as semen from autumn season was better than summer season in Arunachal Pradesh[69]. The sperm motility development initiates during their passage through the epididymis. Severe anaphylactic stress stimulated by summer heat stress, as it causes significant rise of temperature in body as well as in testes, in turn causes derangement of epididymal activity &functions and spermatogenesis process, could lead to summer stress-induced declined total sperm motility and with similar deleterious effects due to testicular hypoplasia, hypotrophy and degenerative changes[70]. Moreover, relative higher temperature could give increase to secondary different sperm abnormalities especially in sperm tail and mid-piece abnormalities as similarly reported in partial hypoplasia of testes or testicular degeneration[71]. Plasma membrane integrity is an important parameters as it is actively involved in sperm capacitation, sperm acrosomal reaction and fertilization in mammals[72] and its measurement helps to analyse the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. Percentage of HOST positive spermatozoa was reduced following scrotal thermo-insulation in bucks due to increase in testicular temperature as in summer stress/summer season[73]. Similar report was observed in a research on bulls, HOST positive spermatozoa were reduced after heat treatment or cryptorchidism[74] as in summer season. Therefore it can be proposed that summer heat stress affects the HOST percentage by affecting the membrane biochemical integrity of the sperm. Similar report was observed in indigenous (Bos indicus) cattle[19], buffaloes[75], sheep[76], goat[77], horse[78], mithun[20] as season has major influence on sperm acrosomal integrity. In the present experimental study, similar report was observed that the plasma membrane integrity was significantly (P<0.05) decreased during summer season in mountain ox species.
In general, the defected sperm morphology returns to original/ normal within approximately 2 months of the thermal insult in bovine species[79] whereas prolonged, chronic and/or severe intensive increase in testicular temperature will causes increased the interval for recovery to original in summer season. It is suggested that the reduction in semen production and its quality is also associated with enhanced testicular temperature, is ultimately associated to the severity, duration and intensity of the exposure to increased testicular temperature in breeding male animals. The mammalian sperm membranes made up of high polyunsatured fatty acids and it is easily suffered to lipid peroxidation[80] which ultimately affects structure and functional status of sperm leads to poor fertility as well as conception rate[81]. High generation of ROS results higher DNA damage was observed in increased testicular temperature (like cryptorchidism or summer heat stress)[82]. The excess production of ROS have an indirect consequence of improper spermatogenesis as well as the epididymal function resulting into retention of excess residual cytoplasm[83] in sperm. Seasons has determined the lipid peroxidation (LPO) production as higher LPO productivity was reported in summer than winter season in semen and higher level of antioxidants was reported and observed in winter than in summer season in Tharparkar bull under the tropical environmental condition[19]. Similar report was also observed in the present study that significantly (P<0.05) higher LPO production in ejaculates of summer than in ejaculates of winter or spring seasons. The summer thermal stress affect the function of the Leydig cell or interstitial cell as chronic heat stress in-turn decreased the secretion of testosterone and subsequently the production capacity of antioxidants of accessory glands such as epididymis and seminal vesicles was decreased as production of antioxidants are mainly derived from epididymis especially tail of the (cauda) epididymis[84] and seminal vesicle[85] into the semen ejaculates. And the epididymis as well as accessory sex glands are highly thermo sensitive and also androgen dependent[86]. Therefore the production of antioxidants was lower and LPO production was higher in summer season than in spring and/or winter season in the present experiment. Similar observations were reported by Yeni et al[87] in ovine seminal plasma during hot summer as compared to spring and winter season as in the present investigation.
In the present research work, the activity of glutathione increased in spring as well as in winter than in summer season. Glutathione reductase induces the reduction of oxidised glutathione to reduced GSH cycle to supply continuously of GSH for sperm protection. The cycle ensures a steady and constant supply of the glutathione reductase from reductive substrate. Further, it is affected by hot thermal stress due to summer heat stress in summer season[88]. The concentration of superoxide dismutase and catalase was decreased in semen ejaculates of summer season because of the thermo stress influences the normal function of accessory sex glands as well as testes[88]. The present findings of the current study showing the impaired detoxication of ROS and concomitant oxidative stress, may indicate that biochemical mechanisms responsible for testicular dysfunction and improper thermo regulation in testis in summer heat stressed animals.
The intra-cellular enzyme of sperm such as AST and ALT are important determinates of the sperm metabolism and its functions and analysis of these transaminase activity in semen is good traits/ indicators to assess the semen quality especially to measure the sperm membrane stability[89] as well as the integrity of sperm plasma membrane. In the present study, leakage/release of intra-cellular enzymes level were significantly (P<0.05) lower in semen ejaculates of spring &winter seasons suggests that the sperm of these seasons has higher membrane integrity of acrosome, plasma&mitochondria and flagella of the sperm[90] than in summer season as the summer hot stress deleteriously affect the function of accessory glands, seminal vesicle and epididymis that in turn leads to poor plasma membrane and acrosomal membrane stability leads to more leakage/release of intra-cellular enzymes in summer hot season. Functions of these accessory glands mainly depend upon the androgen (testosterone) and summer stress resultant the production and secretion of androgen has been affected. Therefore the sperm from summer season has poor viability, poor quality and poor preservability in the present study. Similarly same observation was reported in indigenous Tharparkar (Bos indicus) cattle in tropical environmental conditions[19] as spring as well as winter seasons have significantly higher sperm acrosomal and plasma membrane integrity and lower leakage extra cellular enzymatic profiles than in semen ejaculates from summer season. Further, the testosterone concentration was also to be closely associated with sperm morphological attributes as reported by other research workers[91]. In breeding bulls, testosterone plays major important roles in the process of onset of puberty like 1) development of genital tract, 2) sex drive, 3) initiation &potentiating of spermatogenesis in association with androgen binding proteins as well as the FSH[92]. Similar trend was observed in in vitro zona binding index and percent suggested that higher fertile semen can obtained during winter as well as in spring season in the mountain bovine ox. The present investigation clearly indicated that winter and spring seasons have higher beneficial effects in mithun reproduction and artificial breeding programme. Higher number of breeding/mating is happened in spring as well as winter seasons and less number of breeding/mating is happened in autumn season as during the season of autumn, there is higher environmental temperature and relative humidity that might be affected the sexual desire of the male and female animal as comparatively less number of animal bred/mate during the season of heavy rain fall that's from August to October that might meagre the animal to exhibit strong estrus behaviour as it was reported in cattle as in other part of Indian sub-continent, even though these seasons are the flush season and they get sufficient of green fodder, grass, shrubs and herbs in the forest. Highest number of animal bred mainly in February to April (spring season) as these months of less rain fall and there is some paucity of the green fodder but that might have adjusted with some sort of concentrate ration which fortified with mineral mixture and salt in semi-intensive system of mithun rearing and the seasonal environment is more favourable for breeding in mithun species. Since the mithun is polyoestrus and adult female repeats the estrous cycle every 19-24 days (average 21 days) interval with silent expression of oestrous signs without the prominent symptom of bellowing as well as having standing heat period ranging from 4-16 h (average 10 h). In mithun, the estrus behaviour expression is silent unlike in cattle and it is very difficult to predict the heat symptoms in female mithun by clinical signs mainly in summer months. Further, the semen quality is poor as this higher temperature has detrimental to semen production and sexual behaviour in mithun bulls especially the summer season.
In this study, physiological, reproductive and in vitro fertility rate were differed significantly among the seasons and was significantly higher in spring and winter seasons whereas lowest was in the summer season. Scrotal circumference was positively correlated with in vitro fertility rate and testosterone production in mithun. Therefore, the study was concluded that collection and preservation of semen in mithun species during the season of spring and winter season has higher beneficial effects in terms of freezability and fertility for artificial breeding programme, although the breeding is occurred throughout year.
Conflict of interest statement
We declare that we have no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgements
This research work was supported by a grant from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi for the project entitled “Evaluation of melatonin as fertility marker in Mithun (Bos frontalis) bulls: Effect on circadian rhythm and seasonal variation in semen quality parameters”
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[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6], [Figure 7], [Figure 8], [Figure 9], [Figure 10]
[Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]
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