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This work was funded by the Tunisian Ministere de l'Enseignement Superieur et de la Recherche Scientifique (Contract programme 2020-2023 of LR16IRA04). The hormonal analysis, the immunofluorescence research, and the Western blotting were funded by CICYT AGL-2017-83799-R and DGA A07 17R.

Analysis of institutional authors

Carvajal-Serna, MelissaAuthor

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February 4, 2025
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Melatonin in Male Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) Seminal Plasma and Its Specific MT1 and MT2 Receptors on Sperm Membranes

Publicated to:Animals. 15 (1): 83- - 2025-01-01 15(1), DOI: 10.3390/ani15010083

Authors: Doghbri, Lamia; Carvajal-Serna, Melissa; Atigui, Moufida; Casao, Adriana; Pena-Delgado, Victoria; Seddik, Mabrouk-Mouldi; Dbara, Mohamed; Perez-Pe, Rosaura; Hammadi, Mohamed

Affiliations

Inst Agr Res & Higher Educ IRESA, 30 Rue Alain Savary Tunis Belvedere, Tunis 1002, Tunisia - Author
Univ Gabes, Arid Lands Inst, Livestock & Wildlife Lab LR16IRA04, Medenine 4119, Tunisia - Author
Univ Gabes, Fac Sci Gabes, Erriadh 6072, Tunisia - Author
Univ Zaragoza, Inst Univ Invest Ciencias Ambientales Aragon IUCA, Fac Vet, Grp BIOFITER, Miguel Servet 177, Zaragoza 50013, Spain - Author

Abstract

Camels (Camelus dromedarius) are seasonal short-day breeders, regulated by photoperiod and melatonin secretion. However, no studies have explored melatonin levels in camel seminal plasma or their relationship with testosterone, age, or climatic factors, nor is it known whether melatonin receptors exist in camel spermatozoa to respond to seminal melatonin. This study aimed to analyze melatonin levels in camel seminal plasma and its specific receptors in spermatozoa. Semen samples were obtained from November to March (breeding season). Testosterone and melatonin levels were measured in seminal plasma by ELISA. Melatonin receptors were localized in spermatozoa using immunofluorescence, and their presence was confirmed by Western Blot. Melatonin levels were higher from November to January and decreased in February and March. No correlation between testosterone and melatonin levels was found, but both hormones were negatively correlated with daylength (p = 0.0089 and p = 0.0688, respectively). Testosterone, but not melatonin, levels were affected by age. Two melatonin receptors (MT1, MT2) were detected on camel spermatozoa, with several immunotypes labeled mainly in the tail and post-acrosome region, but also in the acrosome and neck. Western Blot analysis confirmed the presence of these receptors, showing a 39 kDa band for MT1 and a 36 kDa band for MT2. Understanding melatonin's effects on sperm could help ejaculates' processing procedures, semen handling, and infertility issues in camels.

Keywords

BehaviorCamelHumidityImplantsLuteinizing-hormoneMelatonin membrane receptorMelatonin membrane receptorsOne-humped camelRhythSecretionSpermatozoaTestisTestosterone

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Animals due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 10/80, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science.

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-07:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 5.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 5 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 0.5.

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Tunisia.