1- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Technology, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran
2- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
2- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract: (968 Views)
Extended Abstract
Background: During spermatogenesis, sperm lose a large amount of their cytoplasm, and since most enzymes are in the cell cytoplasm, sperm have little antioxidant capacity. Normally, antioxidant compounds that protect sperm are present in the 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 the 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, it is recommended to use these sources in breeder flock diets. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate 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.
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 six treatments and six replicates. The experimental treatments included: 1- Control, 2- a diet containing 1% camelina oil, 3- a diet containing 2% camelina oil, 4- a basal diet plus 10 mg of Tribulus extract per kg body weight, 5- a diet containing 1% camelina oil plus 10 mg of Tribulus extract per kg body weight, and 6- a diet containing 2% camelina oil plus 10 mg of 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 concentrations 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: The main effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract were not significant on semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, viability, and morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa. However, the plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa was affected by the main effects of T. terrestris, such that birds fed with 10 mg levels of T. terrestris showed a lower percentage of sperm plasma membrane integrity than the control (P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in examining the interactive effects of camelina oil and T. 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. 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 T. terrestris extract was significantly lower than in the 10 mg T. terrestris without camelina oil and 2% camelina oil without T. terrestris extract treatments, although they did not show a statistically significant difference from the control. The lipid peroxidation index of semen, measured by malondialdehyde concentration, was not affected by the main effects of camelina oil, T. terrestris extract, and the interactive effects of camelina oil and T. terrestris extract in seminal plasma (P > 0.05). The main effects of camelina oil were not significant on antioxidant enzymes. However, superoxide dismutase enzyme was affected by the main effects of T. terrestris extract (P < 0.05), and the concentration of this enzyme increased in birds fed with 10 mg of T. terrestris extract. In examining the interactive effect, simultaneous use of 1% camelina oil and 10 mg of T. terrestris extract led to an increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes compared to 0% camelina oil and 0 mg of T. terrestris extract levels. However, the levels of catalase and glutathione were not affected by the interactive effects of camelina oil and T. 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 T. terrestris extract to the diet did not significantly affect most sperm parameters, the simultaneous use of 1% camelina oil and 10 mg of T. 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 T. terrestris extract, cannot alone be a reason for improving the qualitative parameters of sperm in aged breeder roosters and requires further research.
Background: During spermatogenesis, sperm lose a large amount of their cytoplasm, and since most enzymes are in the cell cytoplasm, sperm have little antioxidant capacity. Normally, antioxidant compounds that protect sperm are present in the 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 the 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, it is recommended to use these sources in breeder flock diets. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate 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.
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 six treatments and six replicates. The experimental treatments included: 1- Control, 2- a diet containing 1% camelina oil, 3- a diet containing 2% camelina oil, 4- a basal diet plus 10 mg of Tribulus extract per kg body weight, 5- a diet containing 1% camelina oil plus 10 mg of Tribulus extract per kg body weight, and 6- a diet containing 2% camelina oil plus 10 mg of 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 concentrations 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: The main effects of camelina oil and Tribulus terrestris extract were not significant on semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, viability, and morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa. However, the plasma membrane integrity of spermatozoa was affected by the main effects of T. terrestris, such that birds fed with 10 mg levels of T. terrestris showed a lower percentage of sperm plasma membrane integrity than the control (P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in examining the interactive effects of camelina oil and T. 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. 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 T. terrestris extract was significantly lower than in the 10 mg T. terrestris without camelina oil and 2% camelina oil without T. terrestris extract treatments, although they did not show a statistically significant difference from the control. The lipid peroxidation index of semen, measured by malondialdehyde concentration, was not affected by the main effects of camelina oil, T. terrestris extract, and the interactive effects of camelina oil and T. terrestris extract in seminal plasma (P > 0.05). The main effects of camelina oil were not significant on antioxidant enzymes. However, superoxide dismutase enzyme was affected by the main effects of T. terrestris extract (P < 0.05), and the concentration of this enzyme increased in birds fed with 10 mg of T. terrestris extract. In examining the interactive effect, simultaneous use of 1% camelina oil and 10 mg of T. terrestris extract led to an increase in glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes compared to 0% camelina oil and 0 mg of T. terrestris extract levels. However, the levels of catalase and glutathione were not affected by the interactive effects of camelina oil and T. 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 T. terrestris extract to the diet did not significantly affect most sperm parameters, the simultaneous use of 1% camelina oil and 10 mg of T. 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 T. 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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