Enzymatic Activities in Fresh Seminal Plasma and Extended Refrigerated Semen in Nari Suvarna Rams

Abstract

Enzyme activities in the seminal plasma are the good indicators of fertility. A study was conducted to determine the activities of certain enzymes in fresh seminal plasma and extended refrigerated semen in Nari Suvarna rams. Six rams of Nari Suvarna breed were selected and sixteen ejaculates were collected from each ram for a period of eight weeks at the rate of two collections per week by artificial vagina technique. The seminal plasma was separated by centrifugation. Enzyme activities such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were estimated. There was a non-significant (P>0.05) difference between the activities of enzymes in seminal plasma except ALP activity between the rams. The semen was extended using Tris and citrate buffers and the enzymatic activities such as ALP, ALT, AST and LDH were determined after refrigeration for 24 hrs for four Nari Suvarna rams. The numerically increased activities of all the enzymes were observed after extension and refrigeration. It was concluded that the levels of ALP, ALT, AST and LDH enzymes were established in the seminal plasma of Nari Suvarna rams in the present study and the numerical increase in the activities of these enzymes after refrigeration with extension of Tris and citrate buffers for 24 hours could be due to damage to the sperm membrane and leakage of enzymes in to the seminal fluid.