Journal of Endocrinology and Reproduction

Meenakshi Gaur ¹, Neeti Srivastava ², Ben M. J. Pereira ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San. Francisco, California 94143-0100
2 Department of Pathology, Ohio State University, Toledo, OH-43614, US
3 Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Roorkee, Roorkee - 247 667, U.P., IN

Abstract

The impact of environmental cues on breeding in male goats has been investigated. Rainfall, temperature, humidity and day length characteristic of the monsoon season were found to be important factors that influenced breeding. An abattoir survey revealed a good linear correlation between the weight of testis and epididymis sampled from goats during the rainy months of July, August and September. The activity of β-galactosidase, en enzyme that participates in post translation modification of glycoproteins leading to sperm maturation in the epididymis, was also elevated during the monsoon months. This phenomenon is visualized as one among several physiological adjustments that goats make in response to environmental signals for successful mating.

Keywords

Environmental Cues, Epididymis, β-Galactosidase, Seasonal Breeding.

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