Elsevier

Theriogenology

Volume 99, 1 September 2017, Pages 105-110
Theriogenology

Effect of season and age on Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) semen characteristics: A 4-year retrospective study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.05.016Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Retrospective seminal parameters with respect to age/season of Indian red jungle fowl were studied over the 4-year period.

  • Semen quantitative and qualitative traits increased with the increasing age.

  • Spring was the best season for the production of high quality ejaculate at 4-years of age.

  • The reproductive potential of Indian red jungle fowl is highly variable in many points from its descendants.

Abstract

The reproductive potential of the adult males is expected to vary with age/season and largely differ not only in closely related avian species but even in subspecies, breeds and/or strains of the same species. Thus, it is pre-requisite to have knowledge of seminal parameters to achieve maximum production potential of at-risk species for ex situ in vitro conservation programs. A 4-year study was designed to evaluate the effect of age and season (spring, summer, autumn and winter) on semen characteristics of Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) in a retrospective manner. Semen ejaculates (n = 1148) were regularly collected from eight adult cocks 6 to 54 months of age. Quantitative and qualitative semen parameters viz; volume (μL), concentration (1 × 109 mL−1), total sperm number per ejaculate (1 × 109 mL−1), motility (%), viability (%), plasma membrane integrity (%), acrosome integrity (%) and semen quality factor were recorded. A chronological increasing trend with age of most sperm quantitative and qualitative traits (semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number per ejaculate, plasma membrane integrity, viability, acrosomal integrity and semen quality factor) was observed. The highest values were observed at four years of age (P < 0.05) with the exception of sperm motility that was not affected by the age. Spring was the best season for sperm parameters viz; volume, motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability and acrosomal integrity (P < 0.05), however a remarkable sperm production was noticed all over the year. It is concluded that Indian red jungle fowl exhibits an evolution of sperm production that greatly differs in many points from other fowl sub-species. It is suggested that semen ejaculates of highest quality achieved for semen banking at the age of four year in the spring season.

Introduction

The red jungle fowl, a member of family Phasianidae and genus Gallus is considered one of the ancestors of the domestic fowl [1], [2], [3]. The red jungle fowl is enlisted as least concern in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [4] but its population is continuously declining in its native habitat [2], [5]. Red jungle fowl is considered as endangered in Singapore list of Threatened Plant and Animal Species, facing high risk of extinction in the wild [6]. From its subspecies, Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) is native to Northern India and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan [7], [8], [9], [10]. The Indian red jungle fowl population is found in restricted areas in fragments, and is more likely to collapse of genetic diversity and population decline due to sudden unexpected threats [2], [11], [12], [13]. The factors contributing in population reduction are habitat destruction, egg collection, predation and genetic hybridization with domestic fowl [7], [13].

The decline in Indian red jungle fowl needs special attention; several reports suggest adopting appropriate ex situ conservation strategies [2], [11], [12]. For ex situ in vitro conservation, semen banking is considered one of the most applicable options for bird species that are facing continuous decline in their natural habitat and the threats cannot be easily mitigated and/or ameliorated [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20]. Cryo-banking of valuable male germplasm could be an important assisted reproductive biotechnology to maintain genetic diversity through in vitro ex situ conservation programs [8], [9]. It is well established that avian semen can be stored in frozen state for infinite period of time without significant decline in fertilizing potential [17], [21], [22]. The characteristics of the semen ejaculate viz; volume, concentration, motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and semen quality factor determine the reproductive potential of the cocks either used in natural or artificial breeding program [8], [9], [23], [24], [25]. Nevertheless, semen quality varies with age and season of collection in birds that may affect fertilizing capacities accordingly [26], [27], [28]. The success of semen banking depends on successful cryopreservation and acceptable frozen thawed semen quality and fertility outcomes that depend on the initial quality of the ejaculate to be used in processing for cryopreservation [17], [20], [29]. The reproductive performance of the male fowl varies with age and seasons; largely differ not only in closely related bird species but also even in subspecies, breeds and/or strains of the same species [30]. Scarce available literature depicted immense variations in semen characteristics of five subspecies of red jungle fowl [8], [31]. The knowledge about retrospective seminal parameters is therefore the perquisite to achieve maximum production potential of at-risk species for ex situ in vitro conservation.

Therefore, present, 4-year retrospective study was designed to elucidate the effect of age and season (autumn, spring, summer and winter) on semen characteristics (motility, semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number per ejaculate, viability, semen quality factor, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity) of Indian red jungle fowl.

Section snippets

Experimental birds

The chicks of Indian red jungle fowl were reared at Avian Research Center, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi. The Rawalpindi region (33° 36′ 0” North, 73° 4′ 0” East) is located in Southern slopes of the North-Western Himalayas including large mountain tracks with rich valleys traversed by mountain rivers. This region falls in humid and subtropical region having four seasons; autumn (13.9 °C–33.5 °C), spring (10.1 °C–23.7 °C), summer (21.5 °C–46.5 °C) and winter

Results

The data on ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and total sperm number per ejaculate of red jungle fowl from 6 to 54 months of age are given in Table 1. Semen volume, sperm concentration and total sperm number per ejaculate was recorded significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 43–54 months of age followed by 31–42, 19–30 and 6–18 months of age. The highest (P < 0.05) semen ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and total sperm number were recorded in spring season followed by winter, autumn and

Discussion

In conservation programs, the success of AI and semen cryopreservation depends on the initial semen quality of ejaculate [17]. Semen evaluation, based on in vitro measurement of sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability, acrosomal integrity and semen quality factor (SQF) provides an indirect clue about the fertility potential of the males [25], [8], [23], [24]. The production of high quality semen ejaculates depends on the reproductive cycle of the species; furthermore, species or

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