Effect of Melatonin Administration on Libido, Body Weight and Serum Biochemical Profile in Magra Rams During Non-breeding Season

Background: The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of single subcutaneous melatonin administration on body weight, libido and serum biochemical profile in Magra rams during non-breeding season. Methods: Magra (n=12) rams, (average age: 26 months, Avg. body weight: 35 kg) were randomly divided in to two groups and rams received single subcutaneous melatonin @18 mg/ram dissolved in 1 ml corn oil were considered as treatment group (n=6) and ram received corn oil (1 ml) sans melatonin were considered as control group (n=6). Post four weeks of experiment, reaction time was observed during the semen collection @ once in a week for next six consecutive weeks for quantification of libido. Initial and final body weight was recorded to evaluate the effect of melatonin on the body weight gain. Blood was collected at fortnightly intervals i.e., 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75th day of experiment to evaluate serum biochemical profiles. Result: In the present study, overall mean values of reaction time were observed significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in treatment group as compared to control group, however, mean values during weeks didn’t differ significantly between groups. Analysis of variance didn’t reveal significant interaction between the mean values of reaction time and weeks in both groups. The mean values of initial body weight, final body weight, body weight gain, daily weight gain, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), AST/ALT ratio, A/G ratio and cholesterol didn’t differ significantly between groups. The overall mean values of serum total protein, albumin and globulin were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in treatment as compared to the control group. Analysis of variance didn’t reveal significant interaction between serum total protein, albumin globulin and weeks in rams of both groups. The results of the study inferred that subcutaneous administration of melatonin (@18 mg/ram) ameliorated the libido, serum total protein, albumin and globulin but has no significant effect on the body weight gain, AST, ALT, AST/ALT ratio, A/G ratio and cholesterol of Magra rams during non-breeding season.