Biostimulation methods based on chemical communication improve semen quality in male breeder rabbits.

Autor: Villamayor PR; Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002, Lugo, Spain; Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, USC, 27002, Lugo, Spain. Electronic address: paularodriguez.villamayor@usc.es., Yáñez U; Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, USC, 27002, Lugo, Spain. Electronic address: uxia.yanez.ramil@usc.es., Gullón J; Cogal SA, 36530, Rodeiro, Spain., Sánchez-Quinteiro P; Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), 27002, Lugo, Spain., Peña AI; Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, USC, 27002, Lugo, Spain., Becerra JJ; Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, USC, 27002, Lugo, Spain; Instituto de Biodiversidade Agraria e Desenvolvemento Rural (IBADER), USC, Lugo University Campus s/n, 27002, Lugo, Spain., Herradón PG; Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, USC, 27002, Lugo, Spain; Instituto de Biodiversidade Agraria e Desenvolvemento Rural (IBADER), USC, Lugo University Campus s/n, 27002, Lugo, Spain., Martínez P; Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, USC, 27002, Lugo, Spain., Quintela LA; Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, USC, 27002, Lugo, Spain; Instituto de Biodiversidade Agraria e Desenvolvemento Rural (IBADER), USC, Lugo University Campus s/n, 27002, Lugo, Spain.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Theriogenology [Theriogenology] 2024 Dec; Vol. 230, pp. 165-173. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Sep 17.
DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.09.016
Abstrakt: Biostimulation aims to optimize reproductive parameters as part of animal management practices by modulating animal sensory systems. Chemical signals, mostly known as pheromones, have a great potential in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the influence of short-term male rabbit exposure to different biological secretions, potentially pheromone-mediated, on reproductive parameters of males. Four groups of 18 males each were exposed to A) doe urine, B) 2-phenoxyethanol, C) doe vaginal swab, and D) distilled water (control), three times over a 2.5h exposure window, just before semen collection. Semen volume, sperm concentration and motility, as well as subpopulation analysis of the spermatozoa were assessed for each condition. Additionally, testosterone levels in blood samples were monitored at five time points over the 2.5 h exposure window. We found a higher percentage of motile, progressive, fast progressive and mid-progressive spermatozoa in any of the three experimental groups compared to the control group. In contrast, the semen volume and the percentage of immotile and non-progressive spermatozoa was generally higher in the control group. We then identified a higher proportion of a subpopulation of fast and progressive spermatozoa in groups A, B, and C compared to group D. Our data indicates that sperm motility increases when animals are exposed to specific biological fluids potentially containing pheromones, and that an increase in sperm volume does not correlate with an increase in spermatozoa concentration, progressiveness, and speed. Finally, no differences in testosterone levels were found among comparisons, although males of groups A and C (exposed to natural female biological fluids) showed a tendency towards higher testosterone levels. In conclusion, our results indicate that rabbit sperm quality increases upon exposure to the biological secretions proposed, thereby supporting further investigation into their molecular identity. This exploration could eventually pave the way for implementing the use of pheromones in rabbit husbandry to enhance reproductive and productive parameters in farmed rabbits.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author J. Gullón works for the company COGAL SA. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: