Protamine-2 protein abundance in Ongole Grade mature spermatozoa is unrelated to semen quality and DNA fragmentation

¹ Research Center for Applied Zoology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
² Singosari Artificial Insemination Center, Singosari, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
³ Division of Reproduction and Obstetrics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Animal Production and Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

^* Corresponding author: berlinpardede@gmail.com

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the abundance of protein protamine-2 in mature spermatozoa of Ongole Grade bulls and its relation to semen quality and DNA fragmentation. A total of 120 frozen semen straws from six Ongole Grade bulls aged four to five years were used in this study. The bulls were then divided into two groups, group A (post-thawing motility >45%) and group B (post-thawing motility >45%). The semen quality parameters used in this study included progressive motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, sperm head defects, and DNA fragmentation. Progressive motility was analyzed using computer-assisted semen analysis. Sperm viability was evaluated using eosin-nigrosine staining. The HOS test was used to assess the integrity of the plasma membrane of spermatozoa. Sperm head defects were analyzed using carbolfuchsin-eosin staining. Sperm DNA fragmentation was analyzed using acridine orange staining. The protamine-2 protein abundance was analyzed using the enzyme immunoassay method. Although Group A had considerably better semen quality (P<0.05) than Group B, it met the artificial insemination criteria. The protamine-2 protein abundance tended to be higher (P>0.05) in group B than in group A. The protamine-2 protein abundance in Ongole Grade bulls had no relation to semen quality and DNA fragmentation.