Effect of dietary antioxidant supplementation on fresh semen quality in stallion.
Abstract: In this study, the effect of dietary supplementation of organic selenium, vitamin E, and zinc on raw semen characteristics was evaluated. Ten stallions with normal fertility were divided into two groups: a control group (CG), in which standard diet was provided, and a treated group (TG), in which the standard diet was supplemented with 1500 mg of α-tocopherol acetate, 360 mg of zinc, and 2.5 mg of organic selenium on a daily basis. Semen parameters on fresh semen were evaluated three times in all stallions before antioxidant supplementation (T0) and 30 (T1), 60 (T2), and 90 (T3) d after supplementation. Dietary supplementation with experimental antioxidants resulted in a significant increase in average path velocity (121.9 ± 3.1 μm/sec in TG vs 118.9 ± 4.3 μm/sec in CG), straightness (86.2 ± 2.4 % vs 82.6 ± 3.9 % in TG and CG respectively), viability (75.6 ± 10.2 % in TG vs 72.3 ± 6.9 % in CG) and total seminal plasma antioxidants levels (2.7 ± 0.5 mmol/l vs 1.9 ± 0.4 mmol/l in TG and CG respectively) while progressive motility 69.7 ± 11 % vs 62.2 ± 9.3 % in TG and CG stallions respectively) and abnormal sperm morphology (8.2±1.5 % in TG vs 14.4±4 % in CG) significantly improved in treated stallions after 60 d of supplementation. In contrast with previously reported in other species, a negative effect of antioxidant supplementation on semen concentration was recorded in the TG. A positive correlation between progressive motility and total antioxidants in seminal plasma in both treated and control stallions suggested that motility is affected by oxidative-antioxidative status, and that dietary antioxidant supplementation could increase the ability of spermatozoa to contrast reactive oxygen species or the ability of seminal plasma to reduce the oxidative stress. The improvement of semen parameters after antioxidant supplementation was not linear, and after 30 d (or 60 d for some parameters), a further increase was not noted. This evidence suggested that in our standard conditions, dietary intake of these antioxidants could be slightly under the dietary requirement and further evaluation of the actual nutrition requirements of organic selenium, zinc, and vitamin E in the stallion are needed.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-02-04 PubMed ID: 21295825DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.12.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article explores the impact of dietary antioxidant supplementation on the quality of fresh semen in stallions. The study found that the supplementation of organic selenium, vitamin E, and zinc improved several semen parameters.
Research Design
- The experiment used a sample of ten stallions with normal fertility. These horses were divided into two groups: control and treated. The control group followed a standard diet, while the treated group’s standard diet was supplemented daily with 1500 mg of α-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), 360 mg of zinc, and 2.5 mg of organic selenium.
- The researchers evaluated semen parameters in both groups at different intervals – prior to antioxidant supplementation and after 30, 60, and 90 days of supplementation.
Findings
- The use of an antioxidant-supplemented diet resulted in significant improvements in several semen parameters. These enhancements included average path velocity, straightness, viability, total seminal plasma antioxidants levels, progressive motility, and abnormal sperm morphology.
- The average path velocity and straightness measurements denote the speed and direction of the sperm, indicating enhanced sperm movement in the treated group. Viability refers to the percentage of live sperm in the semen, which also saw an improvement in the supplement-treated stallions.
- Interestingly, unlike other studies in different species, this research registered a negative impact of antioxidant supplementation on semen concentration in the treated group.
- A correlation between progressive motility (the ability of sperm to move effectively towards the egg) and total antioxidants in seminal plasma was discovered in both treated and control stallions. This indicates that the ability of sperm to confront reactive oxygen species or the ability of seminal plasma to reduce oxidative stress can be improved through dietary antioxidant supplementation.
Limits and Future Directions
- The improvements in semen parameters were not linear. After 30 or 60 days, depending on the parameters, no further enhancement was observed. This suggests that the dietary intake of these antioxidants might be slightly below the required dietary requirements, indicating the need for further studies on the actual nutritional needs of organic selenium, zinc, and vitamin E in stallions.
Cite This Article
APA
Contri A, De Amicis I, Molinari A, Faustini M, Gramenzi A, Robbe D, Carluccio A.
(2011).
Effect of dietary antioxidant supplementation on fresh semen quality in stallion.
Theriogenology, 75(7), 1319-1326.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.12.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / drug effects
- Animals
- Antioxidants / administration & dosage
- Antioxidants / pharmacology
- Cell Survival / drug effects
- Dietary Supplements
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Semen / drug effects
- Semen Analysis
- Semen Preservation / methods
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Ullah A, Chen W, Shi L, Wang M, Geng M, Na J, Akhtar MF, Khan MZ, Wang C. Challenges and Enhancing Strategies of Equine Semen Preservation: Nutritional and Genetic Perspectives. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 25;12(9).
- Khan IU, Khairullah AR, Khan AY, Rehman AU, Mustofa I. Strategic approaches to improve equine breeding and stud farm outcomes. Vet World 2025 Feb;18(2):311-328.
- Boni R, Ruggiero R, Di Palma T, Ferrara MA, Preziosi G, Cecchini Gualandi S. Stallion Sperm Freezing with Different Extenders: Role of Antioxidant Activity and Nitric Oxide Production. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 25;14(17).
- Ali N, Amelkina O, Santymire RM, Koepfli KP, Comizzoli P, Vazquez JM. Semen proteome and transcriptome of the endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) show association with the environment and fertility outcome. Sci Rep 2024 Mar 25;14(1):7063.
- Díaz Rojas E, Carrillo Moreno DI, Contreras Villarreal V, Arellano Rodríguez F, Alvarado Espino AS, Ángel García O. Effect of nutraceutical supplementation on semen quality in stallions. Vet Med Sci 2023 Nov;9(6):2600-2605.
- Catandi GD, LiPuma L, Obeidat YM, Maclellan LJ, Broeckling CD, Chen T, Chicco AJ, Carnevale EM. Oocyte metabolic function, lipid composition, and developmental potential are altered by diet in older mares. Reproduction 2022 Apr 1;163(4):183-198.
- Ciani F, Maruccio L, Cocchia N, d'Angelo D, Carotenuto D, Avallone L, Namagerdi AA, Tafuri S. Antioxidants in assisted reproductive technologies: An overview on dog, cat, and horse. J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021 Mar;8(1):173-184.
- Bazzano M, Laus F, Spaterna A, Marchegiani A. Use of nutraceuticals in the stallion: Effects on semen quality and preservation. Reprod Domest Anim 2021 Jul;56(7):951-957.
- Cappai MG, Taras A, Cossu I, Cherchi R, Dimauro C, Accioni F, Boatto G, Deroma M, Spanu E, Gatta D, Dall'Aglio C, Pinna W. Effects of Dietary Zn/Se and α-Tocopherol Supplementation on Metabolic Milieu, Haemogram and Semen Traits of Breeding Stallions. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021 Sep;199(9):3287-3296.
- Santymire RM, Lavin SR, Branvold-Faber H, Kreeger J, Che-Castaldo J, Rafacz M, Marinari P. Influence of vitamin E and carcass feeding supplementation on fecal glucocorticoid and androgen metabolites in male black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). PLoS One 2020;15(10):e0241085.
- Pitel MO, McKenzie EC, Johns JL, Stuart RL. Influence of specific management practices on blood selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene concentrations in horses and risk of nutritional deficiency. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Sep;34(5):2132-2141.
- Ali A, Derar DR, Alhassun TM, Almundarij TI. Effect of Zinc, Selenium, and Vitamin E Administration on Semen Quality and Fertility of Male Dromedary Camels with Impotentia Generandi. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021 Apr;199(4):1370-1376.
- Jahanbin R, Yazdanshenas P, Rahimi M, Hajarizadeh A, Tvrda E, Nazari SA, Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh A, Ghanem N. In Vivo and In Vitro Evaluation of Bull Semen Processed with Zinc (Zn) Nanoparticles. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021 Jan;199(1):126-135.
- Soleimanzadeh A, Saberivand A. Effect of curcumin on rat sperm morphology after the freeze-thawing process. Vet Res Forum 2013 Summer;4(3):185-9.
- Dorostkar K, Alavi-Shoushtari SM, Mokarizadeh A. Effects of in vitro selenium addition to the semen extender on the spermatozoa characteristics before and after freezing in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Vet Res Forum 2012 Fall;3(4):263-8.
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