1- Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan
2- Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
2- Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz
Abstract: (156 Views)
Introduction and Objective: During spermatogenesis, sperm lose a large amount of their cytoplasm, and since most enzymes are in the cell cytoplasm, sperm therefore have little antioxidant capacity. Normally, antioxidant compounds that protect sperm are present in seminal fluid. Antioxidant compounds in poultry consist of three compounds: glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. However, these antioxidant compounds are active for only a short period in normal reproduction. Research has shown that adding antioxidant substances to poultry diets reduces lipid peroxidation in semen. Medicinal plants can have potential protective effects by enhancing the body's antioxidant system. These plant compounds are capable of directly reducing the production of reactive oxygen species during various stresses by inhibiting producing enzymes. The addition of unsaturated fatty acids to poultry diets seems essential due to the important role these fatty acids play in metabolism and energy production, endocrine secretions, sperm membrane fluidity, and reproductive functions. Given the lack of an enzymatic system for the tissue synthesis of essential fatty acids in poultry, the use of these sources in breeder flock diets is recommended. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract on sperm parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde concentration in the seminal plasma of broiler breeder roosters.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted using 36 Ross 308 broiler breeder roosters in a 2×3 factorial design, including three levels of camelina oil and two levels of Tribulus terrestris, for 10 weeks with 6 treatments and 6 replicates. The experimental treatments included: 1- Control; 2- Diet containing 1% camelina oil; 3- Diet containing 2% camelina oil; 4- Basal diet plus 10 mg tribulus extract per kg body weight; 5- Diet containing 1% camelina oil plus 10 mg tribulus extract per kg body weight; 6- Diet containing 2% camelina oil plus 10 mg tribulus extract per kg body weight. Semen parameters including volume and concentration, as well as total motility percentage, progressive motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa were measured weekly until the end of the period. Malondialdehyde concentration as an indicator of peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant enzymes including glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and also seminal plasma glutathione were measured in the final week of the experiment.
Results: Based on the results of the present study, the main effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract on semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, viability, and morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa were not significant. However, the plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa was affected by the main effects of Tribulus terrestris, such that birds fed with 10 mg levels of Tribulus terrestris showed a lower percentage of sperm plasma membrane integrity compared to the control (P<0.05). In examining the interactive effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract on quantitative and qualitative sperm parameters, including semen volume, as well as concentration, total and progressive motility, viability, and sperm plasma membrane integrity, no significant changes were observed; however, the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was affected by this interaction, such that the percentage of morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa in the 2% camelina oil treatment without Tribulus terrestris extract was significantly lower than in the 10 mg Tribulus terrestris without camelina oil and 2% camelina oil without Tribulus terrestris extract treatments, although they did not show a statistically significant difference from the control. Also, in the present study, the lipid peroxidation index of semen, measured by malondialdehyde concentration, was not affected by the main effects of camelina oil, Tribulus terrestris extract, and the interactive effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract in seminal plasma (P>0.05). The main effects of camelina oil on antioxidant enzymes were not significant; however, superoxide dismutase enzyme was affected by the main effects of Tribulus terrestris extract (P<0.05), such that in birds fed with 10 mg level of Tribulus terrestris extract, the concentration of this enzyme increased. In examining the interactive effect, simultaneous use of 1% camelina oil and 10 mg Tribulus terrestris extract led to an increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes compared to 0% camelina oil and 0 mg Tribulus terrestris extract levels. However, the levels of catalase and glutathione were not affected by the interactive effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that although the addition of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract to the diet did not have a significant effect on most sperm parameters, the simultaneous use of 1% camelina oil and 10 mg of Tribulus terrestris extract improved the levels of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes in semen. Therefore, improving the antioxidant conditions of semen using herbal agents, at least in the case of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract, cannot alone be a reason for improving the qualitative parameters of sperm in aged breeder roosters and requires further research.
Materials and Methods: This experiment was conducted using 36 Ross 308 broiler breeder roosters in a 2×3 factorial design, including three levels of camelina oil and two levels of Tribulus terrestris, for 10 weeks with 6 treatments and 6 replicates. The experimental treatments included: 1- Control; 2- Diet containing 1% camelina oil; 3- Diet containing 2% camelina oil; 4- Basal diet plus 10 mg tribulus extract per kg body weight; 5- Diet containing 1% camelina oil plus 10 mg tribulus extract per kg body weight; 6- Diet containing 2% camelina oil plus 10 mg tribulus extract per kg body weight. Semen parameters including volume and concentration, as well as total motility percentage, progressive motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa were measured weekly until the end of the period. Malondialdehyde concentration as an indicator of peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant enzymes including glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and also seminal plasma glutathione were measured in the final week of the experiment.
Results: Based on the results of the present study, the main effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract on semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, viability, and morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa were not significant. However, the plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa was affected by the main effects of Tribulus terrestris, such that birds fed with 10 mg levels of Tribulus terrestris showed a lower percentage of sperm plasma membrane integrity compared to the control (P<0.05). In examining the interactive effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract on quantitative and qualitative sperm parameters, including semen volume, as well as concentration, total and progressive motility, viability, and sperm plasma membrane integrity, no significant changes were observed; however, the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was affected by this interaction, such that the percentage of morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa in the 2% camelina oil treatment without Tribulus terrestris extract was significantly lower than in the 10 mg Tribulus terrestris without camelina oil and 2% camelina oil without Tribulus terrestris extract treatments, although they did not show a statistically significant difference from the control. Also, in the present study, the lipid peroxidation index of semen, measured by malondialdehyde concentration, was not affected by the main effects of camelina oil, Tribulus terrestris extract, and the interactive effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract in seminal plasma (P>0.05). The main effects of camelina oil on antioxidant enzymes were not significant; however, superoxide dismutase enzyme was affected by the main effects of Tribulus terrestris extract (P<0.05), such that in birds fed with 10 mg level of Tribulus terrestris extract, the concentration of this enzyme increased. In examining the interactive effect, simultaneous use of 1% camelina oil and 10 mg Tribulus terrestris extract led to an increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes compared to 0% camelina oil and 0 mg Tribulus terrestris extract levels. However, the levels of catalase and glutathione were not affected by the interactive effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that although the addition of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract to the diet did not have a significant effect on most sperm parameters, the simultaneous use of 1% camelina oil and 10 mg of Tribulus terrestris extract improved the levels of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes in semen. Therefore, improving the antioxidant conditions of semen using herbal agents, at least in the case of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract, cannot alone be a reason for improving the qualitative parameters of sperm in aged breeder roosters and requires further research.
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