1Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, CVSc. and A.H., OUAT, Bhubaneswar-751 003, Odisha, India
2Director of Research, TANUVAS, Chennai-600 051, Tamil Nadu, India
3Vaccine Research Centre, TANUVAS, Chennai-600 051, Tamil Nadu, India
4Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, MVC, TANUVAS, Chennai-600 051, Tamil Nadu, India
5Department of ABG, CVSc. and A.H., OUAT, Bhubaneswar-751 003, Odisha, India
6Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Bhubaneswar-751 003, Odisha, India
7Department of Anatomy and Histology, CVSc. and A.H., OUAT, Bhubaneswar-751 003, Odisha, India
*Corresponding Author: S.S. Biswal, Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-751 003, Odisha, India, Email: shuvranshu06@gmail.com
Online published on 9 July, 2025.
Osteopontin plays a crucial role in fertilization and subsequent embryonic development.
The fresh semen samples were collected from crossbred Jersey and Haryana breeding bulls. The proteins in the seminal plasma and sperm membrane were precipitated and analysed by SDS-PAGE followed by western blotting. Based on the concentration of osteopontin in the seminal plasma, the bulls were grouped as high (≥20 pg/ml), medium (10-20 pg/ml) and low (≤10 pg/ml) OPN groups.
Total 13 and 14 different proteins were identified in the seminal plasma and sperm membrane, respectively. The sperm velocity parameters (straight line velocity and straightness) and functional membrane integrity showed significant difference among high, medium and low OPN groups. Significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in malondialdehyde, SOD and glutathione reductase levels. Bulls which are having high osteopontin concentration in the semen had less sperm abnormality, less apoptotic cells, better resistance to cryopreservation, less damaged chromatin and higher conception rate (64.80±1.09) than bulls having low osteopontin concentration in their semen. Therefore, osteopontin may be a valuable protein marker to predict fertility in bulls.
Bull, Fertility, Osteopontin, Semen, Sperm
