Some andrological parameters and biochemical properties in relation to season in rams

Averagely 18-20 months aged of ten rams were used to evaluate the seasonal changes in certain andrological and hormonal parameters and blood biochemical properties under Afyonkarahisar condition. Testicle morphometric measurements, semen characteristics, spermatozoon DNA damage, blood biochemical properties and blood hormonal levels were monthly assessed together with climatic data.The length and thickness of testes about morphometric measurement of testes, the circumference of scrotum, relative testes volume for all the rams were found averagely 9.07±0.10 cm, 6.18±0.07 cm, 31.45±0.29 cm, 0.42±0.01 cm and 10.97±0.22 ml/kg respectively and the reaction times of the rams were averagely 8.65±0.25 s all year long. As to spermatological features the volume, viscosity, pH and mass activity, motility and density of semen were found averagely 1.06±0.03 ml, 3.78±0.07, 6.63±0.04, 3.67±0.08, 77.67±0.77% and 3.59±0.08 x 109/ml respectively all year long. Abnormal and dead sperm rates and HOST values were found averagely 6.52±0.19%, 10.39±0.30% and 66.34±0.81% respectively and it wasn?t observed any difference between the rams. However, the DNA damage was obtained as 30.15±1.17 AU during a whole year. Testosterone and T3 levels of the rams were determined as 3.94±0.09 g/dL and 1.05±0.07 g/dL all year long. However, total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratios, triglyceride, cholesterol, AST, ALT and AST/ALT ratios in the blood sera of the rams were found averagely 7.74±0.10 g/dL, 47.81±0.97 mg/dL, 21.02±0.82 mg/dL, 92.20±1.66 U/L, 21.82±0.43 U/L, 4.31±0.07 and 3.80±0.07 g/dL respectively. Monthly changes were determined in all evaluated parameters. While the morphometric testes measurements of the rams were high degree significant (p<0.05) in the period between August and October according to other months, the lowest values were obtained in the period between January and April. However, it wasn?t observed any difference in the changes of the values about scrotum thickness and reaction times of the rams. The highest values of volume, mass activity, motility and density levels, as to the spermatological features were obtained in the period between August and October and the highest values only HOST were obtained November (p<0.05). Nevertheless, abnormal and dead sperm ratios were found to be significantly lower (p<0.05) in September and October than the other months. Blood sera levels were found to be significantly high in September and October according to the other months, too. The lowest values of triiodothyronine levels were found in August, November and December (p<0.05). While total protein, albumin, globulin volumes were found to be significantly high (p<0.05) in November, triglyceride volumes were obtained at the lowest level in November. However, AST and ALT activity were found to be significantly high (p<0.05) in December and January. Nevertheless, the correlations were obtained between spermatological features on their own. Especially, the positive relationships between sperm DNA damage, sperm volume (r: 0.18) and abnormal sperm ratio (r: 0.30), the negative relationships between sperm DNA damage and semen viscosity (r: -0.32) were found to be significant (p<0.01). Moreover the significant correlations were obtained between morphometric testes measurements, spermatological features and blood sera biochemical properties.In this study, morphometric measurements of testes, spermatological features, blood biochemical and hormonal properties were investigated. The desired values were reached from mid August to mid Nowember. It was concluded that the correlations between the morphometric testes measurements and spermatological features may be used in selection of rams.