Semen quality, testosterone, seminal plasma biochemical and antioxidant profiles of rabbit bucks fed diets supplemented with different concentrations of soybean lecithin

Abstract

<jats:p>A total of 28 adult V-line rabbits were fed<jats:italic>ad libitum</jats:italic>a control diet or a diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% soybean lecithin (SL) for 12 weeks. Bucks that received 0.5%, 1.0% or 1.5% dietary SL had a higher ejaculate volume, mass motility, sperm concentration, total sperm output and total motile sperm. Dietary SL reduced the percentage of dead sperm and increased the normal sperm, and this concurred with an increase in blood testosterone concentration. Blood and seminal plasma total lipid, acid phosphatase and seminal plasma alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased because of inclusion of SL. Interestingly, SL reduced blood and seminal plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances while increasing blood and seminal plasma glutathione content, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity. Conception rate and litter size at birth and weaning were also significantly improved. Practically, it could be suggested that SL is a suitable supplement for improving semen quality, antioxidant status, reproductive traits and the economic efficiency of V-line rabbit bucks and 1% is an adequate concentration.</jats:p>

The detoxication of nitrate by two antioxidants or a probiotic, and the effects on blood and seminal plasma profiles and reproductive function of New Zealand White rabbit bucks

“…Semen was collected weekly from all bucks at 28 weeks of age and continued for 16 weeks to determine semen quality, according to and Attia and Kamel (2012). Semen collection was carried out using artificial vagina.…”

Determination of enzyme activity in rabbit seminal plasma and its relationship with quality semen parameters

“…Okab et al (2007) reported that the leakage of ALP and LDH in rabbit seminal plasma during summer and spring, respectively, could reveal a positive correlation between enzyme release and sperm cell integrity and acrosomal damage. In other works in rabbit, enzyme activity in seminal plasma has been studied to evaluate the effect of diet supplementation with different substances on semen quality (Yousef, 2005, Yousef et al, 2003, 2010Attia and Kamel, 2012).…”

Soya lecithin and season affect the productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood constituents of growing rabbits

“…Higher levels of triglycerides, total lipids and phospholipids in the blood were found in animals fed diets with SL addition which as an emulsifier increases fat absorption in the gut (Attia et al, 2009;Attia and Kamel, 2012). In addition, triglyceride levels were also dependent on the level of hepatic lipogenesis.…”

“…SL improves the productive and reproductive performance of laying hens and rabbit bucks and is a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants and energy (Attia et al, 2009;Attia and Kamel, 2012). PC from biliary sources increased lymphatic triglyceride absorption in Wistar rats which might be connected with the packaging and secretion of chylomicrons (Nishimukai et al, 2003).…”