Alkaline phosphatase in seminal plasma of sperm-rich fraction of semen in fertile and subfertile dogs

Abstract

Twenty dogs presented for breeding soundness evaluation were selected for the present study. Based on previous six month breeding history and semen quality, these animals were grouped retrospectively into fertile (n=6) and subfertile (n=14) groups. Three semen collections were made from each of these dogs, two weeks apart. Semen evaluation parameters like volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, viability, morphologically normal sperms, total sperm output and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level in the sperm-rich fraction were compared between the two groups. The mean values for progressive motility, sperm concentration, total sperm output and viability were 84.17 ± 1.54 per cent, 418.33 ± 36.64 million/mL, 645.11±98.43 million and 84.92 ± 1.56 per cent, respectively, in the fertile group, while the values for these parameters were 45.71 ± 3.47 per cent, 112.07 ± 24.36 million/mL, 190.24±32.45 million and 49.54 ± 2.35 per cent, respectively in the subfertile group. The values were significantly higher in fertile group when compared to subfertile group. The mean ALP (IU/L) was recorded as 168121.67 ± 22443.25 and 49605.86 ± 12669.68 IU/L, respectively in fertile and subfertile dogs. On statistical analysis, a highly significant difference (p˂0.01) was noticed between the groups. Though the concentration of ALP was more than 40,000 IU/L (below which is the proposed cut off value for incomplete ejaculation) in all the dogs under the present study, it was significantly higher in fertile dogs, suggesting a possible relation to fertility.

Keywords

• alp
• fertile
• subfertile
• dog