Physiological response and semen quality of rabbit bucks supplemented with Moringa leaves ethanolic extract during summer season

Abstract

Exposure of rabbit bucks to summer heat stress reduces their homeostasis and semen quality leading to a temporal subfertility. The potentiality of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (M. oleifera ethanolic extract (MLEE)) to reduce negative impacts of heat stress on physiological and semen quality traits was investigated. A total of 28 adult V-line rabbit bucks were randomly distributed among four experimental groups of seven rabbits each. The first group received water (placebo) and served as a control (M0). The other three groups were given orally MLEE at levels of 50 (M50), 100 (M100) and 150 (M150) mg/kg BW every other day for 12 consecutive weeks during the summer season. Chemical constituents of MLEE were detected by gas chromatography/MS. During the experimental period, ambient temperature and relative humidity were recorded daily and were used to estimate temperature and humidity index. Feed intake, BW, rectal temperature were recorded and blood serum biochemical attributes were determined. Semen samples were collected weekly and were analyzed for semen quality traits. Results showed that MLEE contained high percentages of long-chain fatty acids and antioxidant agents. Feed intake and BW were not affected significantly by the treatment, however rectal temperature was decreased significantly by 0.42°C, 0.24°C and 0.40°C in the M50, M100 and M150 groups, respectively, compared with the M0 group. Treatment with 50 mg/kg BW increased concentration of serum albumin (115%; P<0.05), total antioxidant capacity (132%; P<0.05) and testosterone (160%; P=0.098) as well as seminal plasma initial fructose (127%; P=0.092) compared with the control group. Compared with the control, MLEE supplementation with 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg BW increased significantly sperm concentration by 118%, 151% and 158%, sperm progressive motility by 117%, 120% and 118%, sperm viability by 129%, 137% and 127%, sperm normal morphology by 114%, 113% and 114%, intact acrosome sperm by 109% (on average) and sperm with integrated cell membrane by 109%, 123% and 114%, respectively. In conclusion, MLEE supplementation at a level of 50 mg/kg BW could be effectively used to improve heat tolerance, oxidative status and semen quality of rabbit bucks during summer season.

EFFECT OF SUBSTITUTING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SUN DRIED MORINGA OLIEFERA LEAVES As A SOURCE OF PROTEIN IN EARLY WEANING RABBITS RATION ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND DIGESTION COEFFICIENTS AND SOME BLOOD CONSTITUENTS

“…These values are within the previously published data by (Singh et al, 2007) and Olugbemi et al, 2010) who found that Moringa oleifera leaves is an excellent source of protein (22-36%) and minerals. The chemical analysis values of SDMOL in the present study were in harmony with Makkar and Becker (1996) and El-Desoky et al (2017). In addition, Aye and Adegun (2013) found that percentages of DM of Moringa oleifera leaves meal(MOLM) to be 93.63±0.01, ash (7.96±0.03), CP (22.23±0.25), CF (6.77±0.01), EE (6.41±0.01), NFE (40.28+0.25) and gross energy was (14.790 MJ/kg).…”

Naringenin attenuates highly active antiretroviral therapy‐induced spermDNAfragmentations and testicular toxicity in Sprague‐Dawley rats

“…The use of phytochemicals have been proven to improve and protect against poor semen parameters (Abarikwu et al ., ; El‐Desoky et al ., ), in this study, Naringenin proved potent enough to attenuate the HAART‐induced toxicities on the spermatozoa. Although the marked decrease in sperm count in the Naringenin only groups depict that Naringenin may only serve as a prophylaxis rather than a potentiator in male fertility.…”

Effect of Adding Moringa Leaf Meal to Rabbit Diets on Some Productive and Reproductive Performance Traits

“…They found that daily feed intake (g) increased with increasing Moringa peregrine seeds meal (g/Kg diet) compared with those in the control group. While, El-Desoky et al (2017) found that feed intake and BW of rabbit bucks supplemented with Moringa leaves ethanolic extract during summer season were not affected significantly by the treatment. Moreover, Ahmed (2017) found that final body weight, daily weight gain and relative growth rate were insignificantly increased with NZW rabbits fed MLM at the rate of 12.5 and 19%.…”