Impact of Melatonin Administration on Sperm Quality, Steroid Hormone Levels, and Testicular Blood Flow Parameters in Small Ruminants: A Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal Vet World

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2024 May 27

PMID 38798291

Authors

Agung Budiyanto

Slamet Hartanto

Rini Widayanti

Heri Kurnianto

Wardi Wardi

Bambang Haryanto

Ivan Mambaul Munir

Alek Ibrahim

Dini Dwi Ludfiani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Aim: The impact of exogenous melatonin on the sperm quality of small ruminants is controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize previous findings on the influence of melatonin injection on sperm quality, steroid hormones, and testicular blood flow in small ruminants.

Materials And Methods: Thirty studies were analyzed by computing the raw mean difference (RMD) as the effect size between the control and melatonin treatment groups, using the inverse of the variance for the random-effect model of the method of moments by DerSimonian and Laird. We assessed heterogeneity among studies using Q test. I statistic was used to classify the observed heterogeneity. We used Egger's regression method to indicate publication bias.

Results: Melatonin injection (p < 0.05) affected sperm concentration (RMD = 0.42 × 10/mL), morphology (RMD = 2.82%), viability (RMD = 2.83%), acrosome integrity (RMD = 4.26%), and DNA integrity (RMD = 1.09%). Total motility (RMD = 5.62%), progressive motility (RMD = 7.90%), acrosome integrity (RMD = 8.68%), and DNA integrity (RMD = 2.01%) of post-thawed semen in the melatonin-treated group were also increased (p < 0.05). Similarly, treatment with melatonin (p < 0.05) enhanced total motility (RMD = 5.78%), progressive motility (RMD = 5.28%), curvilinear velocity (RMD = 4.09 μm/s), straight-line velocity (RMD = 5.61 μm/s), and average path velocity (RMD = 4.94 μm/s). Testosterone (RMD = 1.02 ng/mL) and estradiol 17-ß levels (RMD = 0.84 pg/mL) were elevated (p < 0.05) in the melatonin-injected group. Melatonin implantation ameliorated testicular blood flow, as indicated by a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the resistive index (RMD = 0.11) and pulsatility index (RMD = -0.15).

Conclusion: Melatonin administration can increase the reproductive performance of small male ruminants.

Citing Articles

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