The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of apigenin and astragalus polysaccharides on the cryopreservation of bovine semen. Apigenin, astragalus polysaccharides, or their combination were added to a frozen diluent of bovine semen. Afterwards, Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA), membrane functionality, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial integrity, CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, MDA, and ROS detection were conducted. The results showed that adding 0.2 mmol/L AP or 0.5 mg/mL APS could improve the quality of frozen sperm. Compared to 0.2 mmol/L AP alone, the combination of 0.2 mmol/L AP and 0.3 mg/mL APS significantly increased the total motility (TM), average path distance (DAP), straight line distance (DSL), average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity (VCL), wobble (WOB), and sperm CAT and SOD levels (p < 0.05), while reducing the ROS and MDA levels (p < 0.05). These results indicated that the addition of 0.2 mmol/L AP or 0.5 mg/mL APS alone has a protective effect on the freezing of bovine semen. Compared to the addition of 0.2 mmol/L AP, a combination of 0.2 mmol/L AP and 0.3 mg/mL APS could further improve the quality of frozen semen.

To determine the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the cryopreservation of bovine semen, epigallocatechin-3-gallate dissolved with double distilled water to 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mg/ml were added to the cryopreservation diluent of the bull semen. Then, we used computer-assisted analysis of semen kinematic parameters, staining method to detect membrane function, acrosome integrity, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehydes (MDA) and reactive oxygen levels.The results showed that adding 0.6 mg/L of epigallocatechin-3-gallate could improve the cryopreserved sperm quality, which significantly increased the total motility, distance average path, distance straight line, distance curved line, average path velocity, curvilinear-velocity, straight-line velocity, amplitude of lateral head displacement and beat/cross frequency, as well as sperm CAT, GSH-Px and SOD levels (p < 0.05), whilst reducing the reactive oxygen species and MDA levels (p < 0.05). Hence, these results indicate that the addition of 0.6 mg/ml of EGCG has a protective effect on the cryopreservation of the bovine semen.

Fatty acids (FAs) are classified into different types according to the degree of hydrocarbon chain saturation, including saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-6 PUFAs), which play an important role in maintaining semen quality. This review focuses on the regulation of FAs in semen, diet and extender on semen quality, and expounds its effects on sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, DNA integrity, hormone content, and antioxidant capacity. It can be concluded that there are species differences in the FAs profile and requirements in sperm, and their ability to regulate semen quality is also affected by the addition methods or dosages. Future research directions should focus on analyzing the FAs profiles of different species or different periods of the same species and exploring suitable addition methods, doses and mechanism of regulating semen quality.

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At present, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a waste resource that is producing a pollution problem in China, and which has some use as animal feed or fertilizer, has not been assessed as a feed for deer. The purpose of this study is to expand the feed of male sika deer and reduce the feeding cost by using the waste resource of SMS. The 10% concentrated supplement was replaced with SMS and the feed intake, apparent digestibility, blood index and velvet production of male sika deer were measured. As the results showed, compared to the control group, the substitution of SMS for 10% of the concentrate supplement decreased the concentration of IgA (p < 0.01), replacing 10% concentrated supplement with SMS of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP) reduced the intake of organic matter (OMI) and improved the digestibility of ether extract (EE), while replacing 10% concentrated supplement with SMS of Flammulina velutipes (SMS-MF) had no effect on apparent nutrient digestibility, feed intake, velvet antler production, and biochemical indexes. In conclusion, SMS had no effect on serum biochemical indexes and the ratio of the feed weight of the deer supplement to the weight of velvet antler (p > 0.05). At the same time, SMS could reduce the feed consumption and improve the economy by using SMS as a waste resource.

It is important to inhibit oxidative stress to maintain sperm motility during cryopreservation. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of supplementing oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) and bamboo leaf flavonoids (BLF) or their combination as an extender for Simmental bull semen freezing. OPC, BLF, or their combination were added to the frozen diluent of bovine semen. Afterwards, computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA), detection of membrane functionality, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial integrity, CAT, SOD, GSH-PX, MDA, and ROS were conducted. The results showed that adding 50 mg/L OPC or 4 mg/L BLF could improve the quality of frozen sperm. Compared with 50 mg/L OPC alone, the combination of 50mg/L OPC and 2 mg/L BLF significantly increased the kinematic parameters of sperm, and sperm CAT, GSH-PX and SOD levels (p < 0.05), whereas the MDA of sperm was decreased (p < 0.05). These results indicated that compared to the addition of 50 mg/L OPC alone, a combination of 50 mg/L OPC and 2 mg/L BLF could further improve the quality of frozen semen. The results could provide theoretical data support for the development of a new protective agent and are significant for the cryopreservation of bovine semen in the future.

The purpose of this experiment is to expand the feed of growing sika deer and to explore the effects on growing sika deer of the spent mushroom substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP). Twelve immature female growing sika deer were randomly assigned to four groups. The ratios of SMS-MP to replace concentration supplements were 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively, and the growth performance, feed intake and apparent digestibility, serum biochemical indexes, blood physiological indexes, serum immune globulin and plasma amino acid of growing sika deer were measured. The results of the current study confirmed the applicability of SMS-MP as a feed ingredient in growing sika deer diets. There was no significant change in growth performance and hematology of growing sika deer when the concentrate supplement was replaced with 10–20% SMS-MP. However, replacing 30% of concentrate supplements with SMS-MP in the growing sika deer diet resulted in significantly decreased Hb and HCT levels. It can be concluded that, as a waste resource, adding a small amount of SMS-MP has no significant effect on the growth of sika deer, and at the same time can reduce the consumption of concentrate supplements, thereby improving the economic benefits of sika deer breeding.

IntroductionFlaxseed oil (FO) and vitamin E (VE) both have antioxidant effects on sperm. The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with FO and/or VE on semen quality.Methods16 fertile Simmental bulls were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 4): the control group (control diet), FO group (control diet containing 24 g/kg FO), VE group (control diet containing 150 mg/kg VE) and FOVE group (control diet containing 150 mg/kg VE and 24 g/kg FO), and the trial lasted 10 weeks.ResultsThe results showed that the addition of FO independently can increase sperm motion parameters, the levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2), while reduce oxidative stress in seminal plasma (P &lt; 0.05). Supplement of VE independently can increased the motility, motility parameters, CAT and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and reduce oxidative stress in seminal plasma (P &lt; 0.05). There was an interaction effect of FO × VE on motility and reactive oxygen species (ROS), while GSH-Px and ROS were affected by week × VE 2-way interaction, levels of T and E2 were also affected by the dietary FO × week interaction (P &lt; 0.05). The triple interaction effects of FO, VE and week were significant for malondialdehyde (MDA) (P &lt; 0.05). Compared with the control group, sperm from the FOVE group had a significantly higher in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate, and subsequent embryos had increased developmental ability with reduced ROS levels at the eight-cell stage, then increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and gene expression levels of CAT, CDX2, Nanog, and SOD at the blastocyst stage (P &lt; 0.05). Metabolomic and transcriptomic results indicated that dietary supplementation of FO and VE increased the expression of the metabolite aconitic acid, as well as the expression of ABAT and AHDHA genes.ConclusionWith in-silico analysis, it can be concluded that the effects of dietary FO and VE on improving semen quality and embryo development may be related to increased aconitic acid via the ABAT and AHDHA genes involved in the propionic acid metabolism pathway.