Effect of L-citrulline supplementation on sperm characteristics and hormonal and antioxidant levels in blood and seminal plasma of rams

Autor: Guodong Zhao, Xi Zhao, Yukun Song, Aerman Haire, Airixiati Dilixiati, Zhiqiang Liu, Shangshang Zhao, Aikebaier Aihemaiti, Xiangwei Fu, Abulizi Wusiman
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Reproduction in domestic animals = ZuchthygieneREFERENCES. 57(7)
ISSN: 1439-0531
Popis: With the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the application of L-citrulline (L-Cit) in animal husbandry, the effects of L-Cit on reproductive hormone levels, antioxidant capacity and semen quality of rams were studied by feeding them varying doses of L-Cit. A total of 32 rams were randomly divided into four groups with eight rams each. After all rams were trained to donate sperm normally, the control group was fed a basic diet, whereas the experimental groups I, II and III were provided with feed supplemented with 4, 8 and 12 g/d of L-Cit respectively. The experiment was conducted for 70 days, during which blood samples were collected from the jugular vein on days 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60, and semen samples were collected on days 0, 20, 40 and 60. In the same group, 100 µl of semen was used to test for quality, The rest of the semen sample and blood samples were centrifuged at 600 g for 15 min, and the supernatant and serum, respectively, were used to determine the levels reproductive hormones and antioxidant indices. Ram semen samples were also collected on day 70 and used to study sperm plasma membrane, substitution and mitochondrial membrane potential. Compared with the control group, the groups receiving L-Cit showed an increase in sperm concentration and number of linear motile sperm (p .01); a decrease in the number of dead sperm (p .01); an increase in sperm viability, particularly in groups II and III (p .01); and an increase in sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (p .01). Moreover, groups I, II and III showed significantly higher levels of serum gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and nitric oxide (NO) (p .01). Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels increased in groups I (p .05), II (p .05) and III (p .01), whereas testosterone (T), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels increased in groups I and II (p .01). Serum total antioxidant capacity (T-A) increased (p .05), whereas both hydroxyl radical (·OH) and peroxy radical (
Databáze: OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz: