Supplemental dietary zinc sulphate and folic acid combination improves testicular volume and haemodynamics, testosterone levels and semen quality in rams under heat stress conditions

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the combined effect of zinc sulphate and folic acid (ZnF) dietary supplementation on testicular haemodynamics (TH), testicular volume (TV), plasma testosterone levels (T) and semen quality of rams under heat stress conditions. Fifteen Ossimi rams were allocated to three groups: (1) G0 (n = 5) received only basic diet; (2) G1 (n = 5) received basic diet +ZnF (Zn, 0.4 mg/kg bw; F, 0.02 mg/kg bw) and (3) G2 (n = 5) received basic diet +ZnF (Zn, 0.8 mg/kg bw; F, 0.04 mg/kg bw) daily for 60 days. TH was evaluated using colour (testicular coloration, TC) and spectral modes [resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI)] Doppler of the supra‐testicular arteries (proximal and distal parts, STA). Semen traits including progressive motility (PM), alive sperm % (AS), sperm viability (SV), sperm abnormalities (SA) and acrosome integrity (AI) were also assessed. The examinations were carried out one month before (D‐30), the beginning of ZnF inclusion in the diet (D 0) and continued for the successive two months (D 30 and D 60). TH was significantly (p < .05) improved at D 30 and D 60, evidenced by lowering both RI and PI and increasing of TC in G1 compared to G0 and G2. In addition, both TV and serum T levels were elevated (p < .05) at D 30 and D 60 in G1 compared to other groups. Semen quality parameters (PM, AS, SV and AI) were significantly (p < .05) augmented in the same trend as TH, TV and T in G1 versus G0 and G2. A marked decrease (p < .05) in SA % was noticed at Days 30 and 60 after ZnF inclusion in G1 compared to G0 and G2. In conclusion, supplementation of the summer diet with ZnF improved the whole reproductive functions such as testicular haemodynamics and semen quality of rams housed in heat stress conditions.

Exogenous L-carnitine Administration Ameliorates the Adverse Effects of Heat Stress on Testicular Hemodynamics, Echotexture, and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Rams

“…Male reproductive potential under HS conditions faces several obstacles, namely, sperm production decrement, OS, cellular apoptosis, steroidogenesis deficit, testicular hemodynamic disruption, and fertility decline ( 40 ). Several trials have been adopted to overcome the negative impact of heat stress in different species by using antioxidants ( 41 – 44 ). L-carnitine, a natural antioxidant, was used extensively in the perspective of cellular bioenergetics, glucose uptake, steroidogenesis, and antiapoptosis under different environmental conditions in different species ( 26 , 29 , 30 , 35 ); however and interestingly, this study is the first, according to the best of the authors' update, to use LC for alleviation the adverse effects of heat stress on testicular blood flow (TBF), TE, nitric oxide (NO), and total antioxidants (TAC) concentrations in Ossimi rams.…”

Reproductive Consequences of Electrolyte Disturbances in Domestic Animals

“…Additional sex glands such as seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands, secrete substances that protect spermatozoa in the plasma of the semen, such as proteins, enzymes (acid phosphatase, alanine transaminase), lipids, electrolytes, and microelements- copper, iron, zinc [ 36 , 37 ]. The plasma of semen was found to be rich in electrolytes, such as calcium, sodium, and magnesium [ 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”

Testicular haemodynamics, plasma testosterone and oestradiol concentrations, and serum nitric oxide levels in the Egyptian buffalo bull after a single administration of human chorionic gonadotropin

“…Colour and spectral wave Doppler modes provide good information about the blood flow of both the testicular artery in camelids (Kutzler et al., 2011) and the penile artery in dogs (Abdelnaby et al., 2021a). Doppler parameters such as resistive index and pulsatility index (RI and PI) are most commonly used in andrological blood flow assessment in many species as stallions (Bollwein et al., 2008), dog (Abdelnaby et al., 2021a), rams (Fadl et al., 2022) and camel bulls (Kutzler et al., 2011). In general, many treatments were utilized to improve blood flow to the testicles and thereby enhance testicular function (Ammar et al., 2012).…”