Seasonal variations of seminal plasma minerals and its relationship with some semen parameters in Ghezel ram

This study was aimed to evaluate the seasonal variation of Cu، Ca، Mg and Mn in seminal plasma and their relationship with some of the semen parameters in Ghezel rams. The semen samples were collected from five rams using artificial vagina throughout a year. Two consecutive samples collected in 30 minute and collection was repeated with a 14 days interval. Semen parameters quantified immediately after collection are including volume، percentage of dead sperm، motility، sperm concentration and total sperm output. Seminal plasma was separated by centrifugation of semen. They were kept at -70°C until analysis. The minerals concentrations were analyzed using atomic absorption. The volume of semen، percentage of dead sperm and sperm motility were better in both consecutive ejaculations in autumn than other seasons. Concentration of Ca and Mg were higher in autumn (17. 7 ± 3. 3 mg/kg and 10. 1 ± 0. 2 mg/kg، respectively) and had significant differences with their concentrations in winter (11. 4±2. 5 and 6. 9±0. 8 mg/kg، respectively) (P<0. 05). Concentration of Cu was significantly higher in summer (2. 9 ± 0. 2) only in the first ejaculation (P<0. 05). Concentration of Mn was significantly lower in autumn in the first ejaculation wheras in the second ejaculats it was higher in summer compared to other seasons (P<0. 05). There were negative correlation between the concentration of Cu with semen volume، percentage of motile sperm and total sperm output and they had positive correlation with percentage of dead sperm (P<0. 05). The positive correlation were observed between Ca and Mg concentration with total sperm output، semen volume and Mn concentration with sperm concentration (P<0. 05). In conclusion، the result of this study indicated that، the season has an effect on the mineral concentration and semen standard parameters in Ghezel rams.