<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This study aimed to evaluate the effect of altitude on some male fertility related traits in Saudi sheep and goats. Testicular tissues were collected from a slaughterhouse in Taif governorate (1800 m above sea level) and Makkah governorate (sea level). Sperm characteristics (1 - individual motility, 2 - percent live sperm 3 - percent abnormal sperm) were examined. Semi-quantitative RT -PCR assay was used to evaluate the expression of IGF-II, StAR, LDLr and CYP11A genes. No significant effect of altitude on tested sperm parameters was revealed. Expression of IGF-II gene in both sheep and goats was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher at sea level compared to high altitude. A similar effect of altitude on StAR gene expression was only observed in goats, while in sheep the level of effect did not reach the significance threshold. Moreover, LDLr gene expression was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher for both sheep and goats at high altitude than at sea level. The CYP11A gene expression was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in high altitude sheep than in those raised at sea level, while the opposite trend was observed for goats. In conclusion, high altitude had an effect on the expression of some studied male fertility related genes, but sperm parameters were not significantly affected.</p></abstract>

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of altitude on some male fertility related traits in Saudi sheep and goats. Testicular tissues were collected from a slaughterhouse in Taif governorate (1800 m above sea level) and Makkah governorate (sea level). Sperm characteristics (1 - individual motility, 2 - percent live sperm 3 - percent abnormal sperm) were examined. Semi-quantitative RT -PCR assay was used to evaluate the expression of IGF-II, StAR, LDLr and CYP11A genes. No significant effect of altitude on tested sperm parameters was revealed. Expression of IGF-II gene in both sheep and goats was significantly (P<0.05) higher at sea level compared to high altitude. A similar effect of altitude on StAR gene expression was only observed in goats, while in sheep the level of effect did not reach the significance threshold. Moreover, LDLr gene expression was significantly (P<0.05) higher for both sheep and goats at high altitude than at sea level. The CYP11A gene expression was significantly (P<0.05) higher in high altitude sheep than in those raised at sea level, while the opposite trend was observed for goats. In conclusion, high altitude had an effect on the expression of some studied male fertility related genes, but sperm parameters were not significantly affected.

Effect of altitude on some male fertility related traits in Saudi ovine and caprine species

High Altitude Research Center (HARC), Taif University, Saudi Arabia

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Unit, Scientific Research Deanship, Taif University,Saudi Arabia

Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Aswan University,

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt

Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Turabah, Taif University,Saudi Arabia

Department of Animal Reproduction and AI, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Center,Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Department of Cell Biology, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Cairo University, College of Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt

Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of altitude on some male fertility related traits in Saudi sheep and goats. Testicular tissues were collected from a...

Effect of altitude on some male fertility related traits in Saudi ovine and caprine species

Article Category: The biology, physiology, reproduction, and health

Published Online: Jul 29, 2015

Page range: 641 - 653

Received: Mar 06, 2014

Accepted: Dec 09, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2015-0007

Keywords
high altitude, fertility, sheep, goat, sperm parameters, gene expression

© by Nabil S. Awad

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Effect of altitude on some male fertility related traits in Saudi ovine and caprine species

Article Category: The biology, physiology, reproduction, and health

Published Online: Jul 29, 2015

Page range: 641 - 653

Received: Mar 06, 2014

Accepted: Dec 09, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2015-0007

Keywordshigh altitude, fertility, sheep, goat, sperm parameters, gene expression

© by Nabil S. Awad

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
high altitude, fertility, sheep, goat, sperm parameters, gene expression