PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF STEROID HORMONES SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF AWASS1 AND BARK! RAMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of addition of two steroid




namely progesterone and testosterone, to the extender of ram semen on




:uality, maintenance and storageability of pelleted rams spermatozoa. The effects




:fferent incubation periods, at 37°C were also studied. Two successive semen




lates were collected twice weekly for 16 weeks from eight sexually mature rams




.arki and 4 Awassi).




Results showed that breed of rams have no significant effects on sperm motility,




reaction (AR) or percentage of dead spermatozoa. Progesterone had on




g significant effects on sperm motihty whether added to the extender at pie-cooling




;ost-thawiflg. Adding testosterone at pie-cooling or postthaWing maintained sperm




iity. Acrosomal reaction was affected significantly by adding either progesterone




estosterOfle whether at pre-cooling or postthawiflg as compared to cotroI. Percentage




r dead spermatozoa significantly increased by addition of progesterone at post-thawing




-c testosterone at pie-cooling as compared to control while adding testosterone at post




1”zwing was sjnif1cantly decrease the percentage of dead spermatozoa in ram sperm.




Srrn motility decreased significantly by using progesterone or testosterone addition 1t




re-cooling or postthaWiflg as incubation at 37°C advanced. Adding testosterone




r progesterone at pie-cooling or post-thawing did not drastically affect acrosome reaction.




t differences were significant as compared to control. Dead spermatozoa were also




cnificanUy increased by the different treatments compared to control.