Effect of feeding pomegranate seed oil as a source of conjugated linolenic acid on Arabian stallion semen quality in cooled and postthawed condition.
Abstract: The objective was to assess the influence of pomegranate seed oil supplementation on the quality of fresh, cooled and frozen-thawed Arabian breed stallion semen. Eight stallions (n = 4 per group) received their normal diet (control group) or normal diet top dressed with 200 ml of pomegranate seed oil (PSO group). Semen was collected every fifteen days for 90 days. Stallions were reversed across the treatments after a sixty-day interval. In cooled and stored condition (2, 12 and 24 hr), spermatozoa motion characteristics, membrane integrity, viability, morphology and lipid peroxidation were analysed. In frozen-thawed semen, sperm dynamic characteristics were analysed by CASA, acrosome status and mitochondrial activity (evaluated by Flow cytometry) determined. The effects of treatment, time, semen type and their interactions were submitted to PROCMIX (SAS® ), and means compared by the Tukey test. Also, collected semen samples were artificially inseminated to evaluate fertility and pregnancy rate after day 60 of the experiment. The results from fresh condition showed that semen volume, sperm concentration, abnormality and live sperm were not affected by dietary treatment (p > 0.05). In cooled condition, the higher value for sperm plasma membrane integrity and viability was observed in PSO group compared to control after 24 hr cooled and stored in 5°C. In postthawed condition, the higher value for CASA total motility and acrosome status was observed in PSO group compared to control group (p < 0.05). One hundred and twenty-six mares were artificially inseminated for fertility trial using control and PSO groups' fresh semen. The average pregnancy rates were not significantly different between control and treated group (62.88% and 65.90%, respectively) (p > 0.05). We concluded that under the conditions of this study, dietary supplementation of 200 ml pomegranate seed oil seems to relatively improved Arabian horse sperm quality during storage in cooled and frozen condition via increasing plasma membrane integrity, viability and acrosome status, but did not improve the pregnancy rates.
© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2018-06-11 PubMed ID: 29888423DOI: 10.1111/rda.13207Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research aimed to investigate the impact of supplementing pomegranate seed oil in the diet of Arabian stallions on the quality of their semen both in a fresh state and after being cooled and thawed. The findings suggest that while the oil did not significantly influence the pregnancy rates, it did enhance the quality of the sperm during storage under cooled and frozen conditions.
Methodology and Study Setup
- Eight Arabian stallions were divided into two groups of four, with one group being fed their usual diet (control group) and the other group’s diet being supplemented with 200 ml of pomegranate seed oil (PSO group).
- Semen was collected every 15 days for a total of 90 days. After a 60-day break, stallions were switched across treatment groups.
- The collected semen samples were evaluated in different conditions: fresh, cooled and stored (at 2, 12, and 24 hours), and frozen-thawed.
- Several parameters were analyzed including sperm motion characteristics, membrane integrity, viability, morphology, lipid peroxidation, dynamic characteristics, acrosome status, and mitochondrial activity.
Findings and Results
- There was no significant effect on semen volume, sperm concentration, abnormalities, and live sperm due to the dietary treatment when in a fresh state.
- In the cooled condition, a higher rate of sperm plasma membrane integrity and viability was observed in the PSO group compared to the control group, and particularly after 24 hours of cooling and storage at 5°C.
- Once the semen was thawed, the PSO group showed greater overall motility and acrosome status compared to the control group.
- Artificial insemination was performed on 126 mares using semen from both groups. The pregnancy rates did not notably differ between the control group (62.88%) and the treated group (65.90%).
Conclusion
- The study found that a dietary supplementation of 200ml Pomegranate Seed Oil possesses the potential to enhance the quality of Arabian horse sperm during storage in cooled and frozen conditions, mainly by increasing plasma membrane integrity, viability, and acrosome status.
- However, it is noteworthy that the oil did not cause an observable change in the pregnancy rates.
Cite This Article
APA
Nouri H, Shojaeian K, Jalilvand G, Kohram H.
(2018).
Effect of feeding pomegranate seed oil as a source of conjugated linolenic acid on Arabian stallion semen quality in cooled and postthawed condition.
Reprod Domest Anim, 53(5), 1075-1084.
https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.13207 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, college of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.
- Department of Animal Science, college of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.
- Department of Animal Science, college of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
MeSH Terms
- Acrosome / drug effects
- Acrosome / physiology
- Animals
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Female
- Horses
- Lythraceae / chemistry
- Male
- Plant Oils / pharmacology
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Rate
- Semen Analysis / veterinary
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
- Spermatozoa / drug effects
- Time Factors
- alpha-Linolenic Acid / pharmacology
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