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This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of L-ascorbic acid (AA) in alleviating the toxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in male New-Zealand white rabbits. Five rabbits (6 months of age and mean body weight 3.12 kg) per group were assigned to 1 of 6 treatment groups: 0 mg AA and 0 mg AFB1/kg BW (control); 20 mg AA/kg BW; 15 microg AFB1/kg BW; 15 microg AFB1 plus 20 mg AA/kg BW; 30 pg AFB1/kg BW; 30 pg AFB1 plus 20 mg AA/kg BW. Rabbits were orally administered their respective doses every other day for 9 weeks, followed by a 9-week recovery period where all drugs were withdrawn. Evaluations were made for hemato-biochemical parameters and enzymatic activities. Results showed that AFB1 significantly (p< 0.05) decreased hemoglobin (Hb), total erythrocytic count (TEC) and packed cell volume (PCV), in a dose-dependent manner, and these effects were continued during the recovery period. Ascorbic acid caused an increase in these parameters, and alleviated the negative effect of AFB1 during the treatment period. Additionally, serum concentrations of total protein, albumin and glucose were significantly (P < 0.05) declined by treatment with the high dose of aflatoxin and these effects were continued during the recovery period. Ascorbic acid caused non-significant increases in these parameters and alleviated the harmful effect of AFB1. On the other hand, aflatoxin treatment caused significant increases (P < 0.05) in the activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (AlP) during the treatment period in a dose dependent manner, and this effect was continued during the recovery period, especially with the high dose. Also, treatment with the high dose of aflatoxin caused significant increases (P<0.05) in cholesterol and total bilirubin. Ascorbic acid caused significant decreases in these parameters and alleviated the harmful effects of AFB1. Whereas, Total leukocyte count (TLC), urea and creatinine were not significantly affected by aflatoxin-treatment. Generally, it is interesting feature that the treatment with AA alone had no negative effects on most of the previous parameters. Also, the presence of AA could diminished the adverse effects of AFB1 on most of hematological and biochemical values, and enzymatic activities in rabbits.

A total of 28 adult V-line rabbits were fedad libituma 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.

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