Muhammad Shahzad - Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan‎
Imtiaz Rabbani - Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan‎
Syed Murtaza Andrabi - Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan‎
Hafsa Zaneb - Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Yousaf - Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan‎
Khalid Majeed - Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan‎
Sajid Tahir - Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan‎
Sohrab Ahmad - Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan‎
Habib Rehman - Department of Physiology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan‎

Kisspeptin has an important role in the stimulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in term of pubertal development, release of reproductive and metabolic hormones and ultimately affecting the fertility. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum kisspeptin level and its correlation with semen quality and selected hormones in buffalo bulls during the summer and spring seasons. Semen and blood samples from eight Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls (age: ۹.۲۱ ± ۱.۰۲ years) were collected. Semen was analysed using computer-assisted semen analysis. Serum concentrations of kisspeptin, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, cortisol, triiodothyronine (T۳), thyroxin (T۴) and insulin like growth factor (IGF-۱) were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Kisspeptin was neither affected by seasons and nor correlated with semen parameters and hormones. Higher levels of GnRH, LH, cortisol, IGF-۱, total motility (TM), average path velocity (VAP), straight-line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL) and linearity (LIN) were recorded in summer compared to spring. Correlations of GnRH versusIGF-۱ and LH, LH versus IGF-۱ and cortisol, FSH versus T۴ and testosterone, testosterone versus T۳ and T۴ and T۳ versus T۴ were observed. The GnRH and IGF-۱ were positively associated with TM, VAP, VSL, VCL and LIN. The LH was correlated with VSL, straightness and LIN. In conclusion, GnRH, LH, and IGF-۱ correlations with semen parameters can be used to indicate semen quality. The buffalo bulls are well-adapted and can give quality semen in the summer season.

Bubalus bubalis, ‎ Computer-assisted semen analysis, ‎ Fertility, ‎ Kisspeptin, ‎ Season ‎