Effects of Propolis Ethanolic Extract Administration on Quality of Fresh and Cryopreserved Semen, Redox Status, and Sperm Flow Cytometry Parameters of Heat-Stressed Rabbit Bucks
Effects of Propolis Ethanolic Extract Administration on Quality of Fresh and Cryopreserved Semen, Redox Status, and Sperm Flow Cytometry Parameters of Heat-Stressed Rabbit Bucks
Ibrahim El-Ratel1*, Mostafa El-Moghazy2, Amira El-Gaml2, Ibrahim Abu El-Naser2
ABSTRACT
Heat stress (HS) conditions adversely affect sperm function and quality traits of rabbit bucks. This study amid to investigate the efficacy of propolis ethanolic extract (PEE) oral administration on antioxidant capacity, reproductive hormones, immunity response, and quality and fertility of fresh and cryopreserved rabbit buck semen under HS conditions. A total of 40 APRI line rabbit bucks (7months old and 3.00±0.20 kg live body weight) were divided into four treatments (10/treatment). The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th treatments were orally administrated with 2 ml distilled water with 0,100, 200 and 300 mg of PEE/buck, respectively, for 40 days, as a treatment period, and then semen was collected twice/week for 12 weeks. Results revealed that all PEE levels decreased libido and abnormality of spermatozoa, while increased semen size and percentages of motility, acrosome status, integrity of membrane, total sperm output, sperm concentration, sperm mitochondrial potential, and initial semen fructose. All PEE levels increased serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, immunoglobulin, and antibody titer, while reduced lysozyme. All PEE levels improved antioxidants capacity, while reduced malondialdehyde in blood serum and in seminal plasma. Advanced motility, membrane integrity, livability and sperm viability were improved, but sperm abnormality, apoptosis and necrosis were reduced in cryopreserved semen by all PEE levels. Total antioxidants capacity was increased, while malondialdehyde was decreased in post-thawed semen by all PEE levels. Conception rate of doe rabbits was improved by artificial insemination with fresh and thawed buck semen with all PEE levels, being the highest with PEE (300 mg/buck) and slightly higher for fresh than thawed semen. In conclusion, PEE oral administration (300 mg/buck) for 40 days may be used, as an effective tool, to improve antioxidants capacity, immunity, and quality and fertilizability of fresh and cryopreserved semen of rabbit bucks under HS conditions.
Keywords | Rabbits, Propolis, Semen quality, Flow cytometry, Fertility
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
