Influences of dietary supplementation with Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on stallion sperm production and on preservation of sperm quality during storage at 5 °C.
Abstract: Stallion semen is damaged by oxidative stress during cooling and transport. Semen processing and extenders have been tested to improve the fertilizing capacity of semen and to preserve semen during transport. Dietary supplementation with natural antioxidants has been proposed to prevent oxidative damages. In this study, for the first time, the effect of dietary supplementation with Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on the characteristics of fresh and chilled stallion semen was evaluated. Maca is a traditional Andean crop used as a nutraceutical for the fertility-enhancing properties that are linked with antioxidant activity. The diet of five stallions was supplemented with 20 g of Maca powder daily for a total of 60 days. A control group of five stallions received the same diet without Maca. Semen was collected once before the administration of Maca (D0), twice during the administration at 30 and 60 days (D30 and D60), and finally twice at 30 and 60 days after the end of the administration (D90 and D120). Ejaculates were processed for cooled shipping at 5 °C and evaluated in the laboratory for total and progressive motility, acrosome integrity, and lipid peroxidation after collection and after 24, 48, and 72 h of storage. Dietary supplementation with Maca improved sperm concentration (from 213 ± 80.4 to 447 ± 73.1 × 10 spz/mL) and total sperm count (from 10,880 ± 4377 to 24,783 ± 4419 × 10 spz). The beneficial effects of Maca supplementation on motility and acrosome integrity in the raw semen were detected from the end of treatment with Maca (D60) until the end of the study (D120). Furthermore, during cooling storage, total motility, progressive motility, and acrosome integrity declined more slowly in the Maca-treated group than in the control group. Lipid peroxidation did not change during cooling storage in either group and did not show a significant difference between the two groups. In this study, the dietary supplementation with Maca increased sperm production and stabilized semen quality during chilled storage.
© 2018 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.
Publication Date: 2018-01-22 PubMed ID: 29359412DOI: 10.1111/andr.12463Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the impact of dietary supplementation of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on sperm production in stallions and preservation of sperm quality during cooling and transport. It was observed that Maca supplementation increased sperm production and helped maintain the quality of the sperm during chilled storage.
Objective of the Study
- The study aims to understand the effects of dietary supplementation with Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on stallion sperm production, as well as its influence on preserving sperm quality during transport and cooling.
- The research also examines the antioxidant properties of Maca that might aid in reducing the oxidative damage encountered by sperm during cooling and transport.
Methodology
- Ten stallions were randomly divided into two groups. One group was given a standard diet with an additional 20g of Maca powder daily for 60 days, while the control group was fed the same diet without Maca.
- Semen was collected four times: once before Maca administration, twice during the administration (at 30 and 60 days), and twice after administration ended (at 90 and 120 days).
- The collected semen samples were cooled at 5°C to simulate the temperatures they would face during transport.
- Total and progressive motility, acrosome integrity, and lipid peroxidation of the sperm were evaluated both immediately post-collection and after 24, 48, and 72 hours of storage.
Findings
- After dietary supplementation with Maca, sperm concentration more than doubled, and the total sperm count also increased significantly.
- Improvements in motility and acrosome integrity in raw semen due to Maca supplementation were noted from the end of the treatment (day 60) until the study conclusion (day 120).
- During cooled storage, the rate of decline in total motility, progressive motility, and acrosome integrity was slower in the Maca-supplemented group compared to the control group.
- There was no significant change in lipid peroxidation in the cooled storage in either group, indicating no notable oxidative stress difference between the two groups.
Conclusion
- Overall, the dietary supplementation with Maca resulted in increased sperm production and stabilized semen quality during storage under chilled conditions.
- These findings suggest that Maca may be a valuable supplement for stallions to enhance their fertility and the longevity of their sperm during cooling and transportation.
Cite This Article
APA
Del Prete C, Tafuri S, Ciani F, Pasolini MP, Ciotola F, Albarella S, Carotenuto D, Peretti V, Cocchia N.
(2018).
Influences of dietary supplementation with Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on stallion sperm production and on preservation of sperm quality during storage at 5 °C.
Andrology, 6(2), 351-361.
https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12463 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
- UNMSM, Universidad Nacional Mayor San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antioxidants / pharmacology
- Cryopreservation
- Dietary Supplements
- Horses
- Lepidium
- Lipid Peroxidation
- Male
- Semen Preservation
- Spermatogenesis / drug effects
- Spermatozoa / drug effects
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Cocchia N, Merlo B, Calabria A, Spada S, Iacono E, Ciarcia R, Damiano S, Giordano E, Laperuta F, Gasparrini B, Del Prete C. Effect of Maca aqueous extract addition to a freezing extender for canine semen.. Vet Res Commun 2023 Sep 7;.
- Levano G, Quispe J, Vargas D, García M, López A, Aguila L, Valdivia M. Effect of Atomized Black Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Supplementation in the Cryopreservation of Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) Epididymal Spermatozoa.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 21;13(13).
- Kahrizi D, Far AF, Chaghakaboodi Z, Khazaei M, Sozmen EU, Dogan H. Stem cell induction and plant regeneration are affected by medium components in maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp).. Mol Biol Rep 2023 May;50(5):4187-4192.
- Hamzah Merzah L, Abdul-Lateef Ali N. Effect of Adding Different Levels of Maca Root (Lepidium Meyenii) to the Diet on the Productive Performance of Broilers Exposed to Oxidative Stress.. Arch Razi Inst 2022 Aug;77(4):1363-1370.
- Lee HW, Lee MS, Qu F, Lee JW, Kim E. Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on semen quality parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Front Pharmacol 2022;13:934740.
- Leiva-Revilla J, Rolón M, Siyadatpanah A, Pereira ML, Nissapatorn V. First study of in vitro protective effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa.. Vet World 2022 Jun;15(6):1481-1488.
- Olgun O, Gül ET, Tüzün AE, Yıldız A. Effect of maca powder supplementation to growing quail diets on performance, carcass, serum constituents and hormones, and bone and ileum characteristics.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2022 Jul 22;54(4):239.
- Del Prete C, Calabria A, Longobardi V, Palumbo V, Merlo B, Iacono E, Tafuri S, Carotenuto D, Ciani F, Damiano S, Ciarcia R, Cocchia N. Effect of Aqueous Extract of Maca Addition to an Extender for Chilled Canine Semen.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 26;12(13).
- Greco A, Del Prete C, De Biase D, Palumbo V, Albanese S, Bruzzese D, Carotenuto D, Ciani F, Tafuri S, Meomartino L, Mancini M, Paciello O, Cocchia N. Effects of Oral Administration of Lepidium meyenii on Morphology of Mice Testis and Motility of Epididymal Sperm Cells After Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:692874.
- Melnikovova I, Russo D, Fait T, Kolarova M, Tauchen J, Kushniruk N, Falabella R, Milella L, Fernández Cusimamani E. Evaluation of the effect of Lepidium meyenii Walpers in infertile patients: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.. Phytother Res 2021 Nov;35(11):6359-6368.
- 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.
- Galdiero G, D'Anza E, de Angelis C, Albarella S, Peretti V, Pivonello R, Ciotola F. Sperm Global DNA Methylation (SGDM) in Semen of Healthy Dogs.. Vet Sci 2021 Mar 17;8(3).
- 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.
- Amjad S, Rahman MS, Pang MG. Role of Antioxidants in Alleviating Bisphenol A Toxicity.. Biomolecules 2020 Jul 25;10(8).
- Tafuri S, Cocchia N, Carotenuto D, Vassetti A, Staropoli A, Mastellone V, Peretti V, Ciotola F, Albarella S, Del Prete C, Palumbo V, Esposito L, Vinale F, Ciani F. Chemical Analysis of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) and Its Effects on Redox Status and on Reproductive Biology in Stallions (†).. Molecules 2019 May 23;24(10).
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