Graduation date: 1996

The present study was performed in the Zoo-Technical Engineering department of the Tiahuanaco Rural Academic Unit of the Bolivian Catholic University. The biochemical components of the secretions produced by the bulb urethral glands of male llama that were studied are glucose, inorganic phosphorus, creatinine, total proteins, albumin, total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Spectrophotometer standardized techniques were used in nine animals of three, four, and five years of age from communities of the Ingavi province. Groups comprised of three animals each were selected by age criteria. After dissecting and separating the pelvic urethra, gland secretion was obtained by finger pressure. The process was made after beneficiating the animals. The bulb urethral gland secretions present a white color and a hard viscous consistency. The results of biochemical analysis in the three ages are as follows : glucose 535.79 mg/dl; inorganic phosphorus 30.67 mg/dl; creatinine 25.34 mg/dl; total proteins 11.78 g/dl; albumin, 8.596 g/dl; total lipids 1022.55 mg/dl; cholesterol 168.83 mg/dl; and triglycerides, 605.10 mg/dl. Animal age significantly influences on the concentrations of glucose, creatinine, and total lipids with a probability of (p>= 0.05). Animal age has no influence over the concentrations of inorganic phosphorus, total proteins, albumin, cholesterol, and triglycerides with a probability of (p

This study was conducted at the installation of the Rural Academic Unit-Tiahuanaco of the BCU, located in the community of Achaca, third municipal section of Ingavi province, department of La Paz. It is 57 km from the La Paz-Desaguadero international highway, at 68 degrees 42 minutes 28 seconds latitude South by 16 degrees 35 minutes 41 seconds longitude West, at an altitude of 3856 meters above sea level. The study went from October 2000 to September 2001. The study consisted of determining the concentrations of the biochemical components in llama seminal plasma at three ages. Components studied were glucose, inorganic phosphate, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulins, cholesterol, calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Twelve male llamas of 3, 4, and 5 years were selected and acquired from the Choquecota area of the Carangas province, department of Oruro. Four animals were chosen at each age and were subjected to a training period of semen collection during 2 months, using the artificial hindquarters designed for this effect. The 6 that best responded to the training were used for the investigation. Eight collections were obtained from each animal over the course of the study, and they were used for laboratory analysis. The results were analyzed using a hierarchical factorial design that involved a mixed analysis (nested and crossed) of the factors of age and collections. (The averages of two collections corresponding to each week were analyzed.) Each weekly collection average per age was an experimental unit. Four experimental units were obtained for each age, and the analysis of the data was done with the SAS statistics package version 6.12. From the analyses done the following results were obtained: the concentrations of glucose (6.246 [plus or minus] 0.716 mg/dl), creatinine (3.459 [plus or minus] 1.27 mg/dl), cholesterol (67.28 [plus or minus] 18.21 mg/dl), potassium (8.249 [plus or minus] 1.78 mEq/L), and sodium (123.187 [plus or minus] 18.39 mEq/L) did not show significant differences between ages or collections (p>0.05). The concentrations of calcium (12.138 [plus or minus] 3.64 mg/dl) and magnesium (1.943 [plus or minus] 0.52 mEq/L) showed significant (p<0.05) differences in age only and not in collections. Globulins (1.574 [plus or minus] 0.51 g/dl) showed differences between collections (p<0.05) but not between ages. Total protein (3.732 [plus or minus] 0.45 g/dl), albumin (2.158 [plus or minus] 0.46 g/dl), and inorganic phosphate (9.42 [plus or minus] 2.42 mg/dl) showed differences both between ages and between collections (p<0.05).

At an international level, Bolivia possesses the largest population of llamas followed by Peru. This makes our country a power, in this renewable resource, to create and generate economic development primarily for the quality of llama meat which has nutritional properties superior to other species of animals used for food. The development of the investigation of llamas in our country has not been very far-reaching. In other countries, advances have been made for quite some time, specifically in the area of reproduction, which presents problems in bringing about an intensive repopulation due to the unique characteristics of llama copulation and semen. With the present work, carried out in the Unidad Académica Campesina - Tiahuanaco (Universidad Católica Boliviana), titled: Determination of the Protein Fraction and Presence of Antibodies in the Seminal Fluid of Llamas of 3, 4, and 5 years of age, in Different Dates of Semen Collection, the number of protein fractions, their molecular weights, the presence of antibodies, and the concentrations of the protein fractions was determined. This will lead to determining the possible presence of a component in the seminal fluid which is responsible for the low percentage of births achieved in these animals. In studies conducted in the field, a series of tests were carried out so the male would respond to the artificial collection of the semen, beginning with the puppet technique (Peruvian) and others, all of which did not produce results. The objective was achieved with the mannequin of a llama's hindquarters which was accepted by 80% of the males. Laboratory studies consisted in separating seminal fluid from the semen through centrifugation. An electrophoresis technique was employed in order to examine the protein fractions. This technique allowed determination of the number of protein fractions, their molecular weights, immunoglobulin, and their concentrations. The highest number of protein fractions was found in 4 and 5-year-old animals with 15 to 18 protein fractions. In the weekly collection of semen, the final week returned 18 protein fractions (in the 4-year-old animal), which fractions may possibly play an important role in the nutrition, capacitation, and protection of the spermatozoid. The molecular weights of the proteins found in the seminal fluid vary from one animal to another and in the collection dates. The extremes in the range of molecular weights are from 2,000 to 150,000 Daltons. Animals five years in age presented higher molecular weights compared with younger animals. Regarding immunoglobulin or antibodies, proteins were found with molecular weights from 150,000 to 152,500 Daltons in animals from three to five years of age. Through the radial immunodiffusion technique, immunoglobulin G was found in the llama seminal fluid. The protein fraction concentrations are variable, ranging from 11.65 to 0.03 mg/mL of seminal fluid. These variations are heterogeneous as much in animal age as in dates of collection. There exists a loose superiority in five-year-olds and during the third week of semen collection. The obtained results of the protein fractions and their molecular weights demonstrate the existence of antibodies in the seminal fluid of the llama that play an important role in spermatic viability. Because of this, continued investigation should be carried out to determine the antibodies' specific function and find alternatives to isolate and neutralize them and increase the fertility figures of these animals.