No abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate if the stress in dogs may have deleterious effects on the sperm quality and on the composition of the seminal plasma. IN addition, the effect of supplementation with vitamin E on stressed dogs was also evaluated. Eighteen male adult rotweiller dogs were randomly allocated in a 2X2 factorial treatment design (stress and no stress X vitamin E supplementation and no supplementation). Animals of the supplemented group received 500 mg of α-tocopherol/animal/day. The stress was induced 7 days after the beginning of the vitamin supplementation using dexamethasone (0.01 mg/kg intramuscular for 7 consecutive days). Stress was characterized through the measurement of plasmatic cortisol, food intake, body score and weight. Semen collections were performed twice a week through digital manipulation and blood collections were performed weekly.Semen parameters used to evaluate the effect of the treatments were: ejaculate volume, density and pH, sperm motility, vigor, concentration and morphology, sperm