Dromedary camel epididymal sperm characteristics at breeding and non-breeding seasons

Abstract

Testicles from 30 clinically healthy male mature dromedary camels were gathered from the El-Basatin slaughterhouse all the breeding season (Nov. 2018 to Apr. 2019) and the nonbreeding season (May 2019 to Oct. 2019). Within one year the epididymal sperm were obtained twice per month. This manuscript aimed to investigate the influence of seasonality on dromedary camel epididymal sperm characteristics (motility, viability, sperm cell concentration, morphology and membrane integrity). The results depicted that during the breeding period, the rate of motility, concentration, live spermatozoa, normal morphology and the intact membrane of dromedary camel epididymal sperm showed a high significant increase (P<0.05) when compared to the nonbreeding period. While rate of death, abnormalities and membrane damage of the dromedary camel epididymal sperm were highly increased (P <0.05) during non-breeding when compared to the breeding period. In conclusion, the dromedary epididymal camel’s sperm characteristics, viability and quality improved during breeding season.