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Evaluation of the Effects of Melatonin Implants on Testicular and Spermatic Parameters of Rams Raised in Station in the Niayes Zone in Senegal

Received: 2 April 2023    Accepted: 27 April 2023    Published: 10 May 2023
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Abstract

The intensification of livestock production in response to the growing demand for animal products is increasingly creating new challenges in terms of control of livestock management and feeding, and especially reproduction. Also, ewes are often considered responsible for infertility problems in a sheep flock, as the reproductive capacity of rams is often taken for granted. However, it is important to have genetically superior males to improve the overall fertility of the herd. And, one way to control the sexual performance of rams and improve their fertilizing capacity, is to have them undergo melatonin treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the use of melatonin implants on testicular and spermatic parameters of rams raised in stations in the Niayes area of Senegal. The experimental herd consisted of 6 rams of well-known body characteristics which were followed for 2 months during which testicular measurements were carried out at the beginning and semen was collected by electroejaculation every 2 weeks. After a break of 2 weeks, the same rams are implanted with melatonin (MELOVINE ®) at a rate of 3 implants/ram, i.e. a dose of 54 mg of melatonin per ram, and the same measurements and semen collections are again carried out for 2 months. Data on antero-posterior testicular diameter, testicular weight, scrotal circumference, and semen analysis (volume, color, appearance, mass and individual motility, concentration, morphology) recorded and processed with Excel were exported to the SPSS software where they were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and independent sample comparison testing. The results showed that melatonin treatment significantly reduced weight (555±155 g vs. 396±128 g) and antero-posterior diameter (23.42±2.0 cm vs. 20.10±2.26 cm). However, it induced improvements in ejaculate volume, color, and appearance, sperm production, and morphological abnormality rate, and, most significantly, sperm motility (2.1±1.5 vs. 3.3±1.2) and survival rate (54±34% vs. 80±31%) of spermatozoa. Melatonin has therefore improved the sperm characteristics of rams, and is an interesting reproductive management tool for improving the productivity of sheep farms. It can be recommended for use in artificial insemination centres in order to improve the characteristics of the semen doses produced.

Published in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11
Page(s) 55-63
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Melatonin, Rams, Reproduction, Testicular Parameters, Spermatic Characteristics

References
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Cite This Article
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    Bilkiss Vinode Maureen Assani, Simplice Bosco Ayssiwede, Mohamed Sallim Kinnou, Félix Victor Latyr Mbengue, Ayao Missohou, et al. (2023). Evaluation of the Effects of Melatonin Implants on Testicular and Spermatic Parameters of Rams Raised in Station in the Niayes Zone in Senegal. Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 11(3), 55-63. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11

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    Bilkiss Vinode Maureen Assani; Simplice Bosco Ayssiwede; Mohamed Sallim Kinnou; Félix Victor Latyr Mbengue; Ayao Missohou, et al. Evaluation of the Effects of Melatonin Implants on Testicular and Spermatic Parameters of Rams Raised in Station in the Niayes Zone in Senegal. Anim. Vet. Sci. 2023, 11(3), 55-63. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11

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    Bilkiss Vinode Maureen Assani, Simplice Bosco Ayssiwede, Mohamed Sallim Kinnou, Félix Victor Latyr Mbengue, Ayao Missohou, et al. Evaluation of the Effects of Melatonin Implants on Testicular and Spermatic Parameters of Rams Raised in Station in the Niayes Zone in Senegal. Anim Vet Sci. 2023;11(3):55-63. doi: 10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11,
      author = {Bilkiss Vinode Maureen Assani and Simplice Bosco Ayssiwede and Mohamed Sallim Kinnou and Félix Victor Latyr Mbengue and Ayao Missohou and Naceur Slimane},
      title = {Evaluation of the Effects of Melatonin Implants on Testicular and Spermatic Parameters of Rams Raised in Station in the Niayes Zone in Senegal},
      journal = {Animal and Veterinary Sciences},
      volume = {11},
      number = {3},
      pages = {55-63},
      doi = {10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.avs.20231103.11},
      abstract = {The intensification of livestock production in response to the growing demand for animal products is increasingly creating new challenges in terms of control of livestock management and feeding, and especially reproduction. Also, ewes are often considered responsible for infertility problems in a sheep flock, as the reproductive capacity of rams is often taken for granted. However, it is important to have genetically superior males to improve the overall fertility of the herd. And, one way to control the sexual performance of rams and improve their fertilizing capacity, is to have them undergo melatonin treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the use of melatonin implants on testicular and spermatic parameters of rams raised in stations in the Niayes area of Senegal. The experimental herd consisted of 6 rams of well-known body characteristics which were followed for 2 months during which testicular measurements were carried out at the beginning and semen was collected by electroejaculation every 2 weeks. After a break of 2 weeks, the same rams are implanted with melatonin (MELOVINE ®) at a rate of 3 implants/ram, i.e. a dose of 54 mg of melatonin per ram, and the same measurements and semen collections are again carried out for 2 months. Data on antero-posterior testicular diameter, testicular weight, scrotal circumference, and semen analysis (volume, color, appearance, mass and individual motility, concentration, morphology) recorded and processed with Excel were exported to the SPSS software where they were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and independent sample comparison testing. The results showed that melatonin treatment significantly reduced weight (555±155 g vs. 396±128 g) and antero-posterior diameter (23.42±2.0 cm vs. 20.10±2.26 cm). However, it induced improvements in ejaculate volume, color, and appearance, sperm production, and morphological abnormality rate, and, most significantly, sperm motility (2.1±1.5 vs. 3.3±1.2) and survival rate (54±34% vs. 80±31%) of spermatozoa. Melatonin has therefore improved the sperm characteristics of rams, and is an interesting reproductive management tool for improving the productivity of sheep farms. It can be recommended for use in artificial insemination centres in order to improve the characteristics of the semen doses produced.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Evaluation of the Effects of Melatonin Implants on Testicular and Spermatic Parameters of Rams Raised in Station in the Niayes Zone in Senegal
    AU  - Bilkiss Vinode Maureen Assani
    AU  - Simplice Bosco Ayssiwede
    AU  - Mohamed Sallim Kinnou
    AU  - Félix Victor Latyr Mbengue
    AU  - Ayao Missohou
    AU  - Naceur Slimane
    Y1  - 2023/05/10
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11
    T2  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    JF  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    JO  - Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    SP  - 55
    EP  - 63
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5850
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.avs.20231103.11
    AB  - The intensification of livestock production in response to the growing demand for animal products is increasingly creating new challenges in terms of control of livestock management and feeding, and especially reproduction. Also, ewes are often considered responsible for infertility problems in a sheep flock, as the reproductive capacity of rams is often taken for granted. However, it is important to have genetically superior males to improve the overall fertility of the herd. And, one way to control the sexual performance of rams and improve their fertilizing capacity, is to have them undergo melatonin treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the use of melatonin implants on testicular and spermatic parameters of rams raised in stations in the Niayes area of Senegal. The experimental herd consisted of 6 rams of well-known body characteristics which were followed for 2 months during which testicular measurements were carried out at the beginning and semen was collected by electroejaculation every 2 weeks. After a break of 2 weeks, the same rams are implanted with melatonin (MELOVINE ®) at a rate of 3 implants/ram, i.e. a dose of 54 mg of melatonin per ram, and the same measurements and semen collections are again carried out for 2 months. Data on antero-posterior testicular diameter, testicular weight, scrotal circumference, and semen analysis (volume, color, appearance, mass and individual motility, concentration, morphology) recorded and processed with Excel were exported to the SPSS software where they were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and independent sample comparison testing. The results showed that melatonin treatment significantly reduced weight (555±155 g vs. 396±128 g) and antero-posterior diameter (23.42±2.0 cm vs. 20.10±2.26 cm). However, it induced improvements in ejaculate volume, color, and appearance, sperm production, and morphological abnormality rate, and, most significantly, sperm motility (2.1±1.5 vs. 3.3±1.2) and survival rate (54±34% vs. 80±31%) of spermatozoa. Melatonin has therefore improved the sperm characteristics of rams, and is an interesting reproductive management tool for improving the productivity of sheep farms. It can be recommended for use in artificial insemination centres in order to improve the characteristics of the semen doses produced.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Service de Chirurgie-Reproduction, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal

  • Service de Zootechnie-Alimentation, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal

  • Service de Chirurgie-Reproduction, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal

  • Service de Zootechnie-Alimentation, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal

  • Service de Zootechnie-Alimentation, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires (EISMV), Dakar, Senegal

  • Service des Sciences et Pathologies de Reproduction, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire (ENV) de Sidi-Thabet, Tunis, Tunisia

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