Abstract

Current investigation quantified the endogenous levels of osteopontin (OPN), malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes in the seminal plasma (SP) of canine and the relationship between the OPN level and the in vitro sperm quality were also investigated. A total of 21 dogs were selected for the present study. On the basis of conception rate and previous breeding history, dogs were classified into two groups: fertile (Group I) for dogs showing normal conception when mated with bitches of similar age and weight, hypofertile (Group II) for dogs displaying conception failure with at least 3 matings with different bitches. Results revealed OPN concentration had a highly significant (p<0.01) positive correlation with sperm motility, viability, normal morphology, functional membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, DNA integrity and MMP. Endogenous OPN level in the SP did not reveal any significant (p>0.05) correlation with the MDA concentration. OPN concentration also failed to show any significant (p>0.05) correlation with catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration in the SP. It was concluded that endogenous OPN level in the SP had significant positive relationship with several sperm in vitro characteristics. Estimation of endogenous OPN level in the SP tended to be more realistic in identification of hypofertile dogs from the fertile ones and can potentially be used as a fertility marker.

Abedin, S.N., Leela, V., Deori, S., 2024. Identifying the Relationship of Seminal OPN with advanced Sperm Parameters, Lipid Peroxidation Profile and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Fertile and Hypofertile Dogs. Research Biotica, 2024, online first.