The Relationship between Enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase and semen quality parameters in boars

Frydrychová S., Lustyková A., Lipenský J. and Rozkot M.

Institute of Animal Science, Praha Uhříněves, Czech Republic

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in seminal plasma and in spermatozoa to semen quality parameters in boars. Semen volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration, percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (MAS), total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate and the AST activity in supernatants and in spermatozoa was assessed in 102 collected samples of semen fertile AI boars. AST activity in supernatant correlated negatively with sperm motility (P<0.05) and positively with MAS, sperm concentration (P<0.05) and semen volume. AST activity in spermatozoa positively correlated with sperm motility and sperm concentration and negatively with MAS and semen volume (P<0.05). Significant differences were recorded for sperm motility, total number of spermatozoa, AST in supernatant and in spermatozoa between compared groups with low and high occurrence MAS (P<0.05).

In conclusion, our results demonstrate significant interaction of the enzymatic activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and semen quality parameters in boars in particular to rate occurrence MAS and sperm motility.

Key Words: Boar, aspartate aminotransferase, semen quality