Effect of docosahexaenoic acid and alpha-tocopherol enrichment in chicken sperm on semen quality, sperm lipid composition and susceptibility to peroxidation

Theriogenology. 2006 Sep 1;66(4):877-86. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.02.022. Epub 2006 Mar 13.

Abstract

The aim of the present experiment was to study the effect of fish oil and Vitamin E rich diets on semen production, sperm functions and composition in broiler breeders. The following parameters were measured: semen volume and concentration, sperm motility and viability, sperm susceptibility to induced peroxidation, sperm lipid and alpha-tocopherol contents. Dietary n-3 PUFA were successfully transferred into spermatozoan phospholipid by fish oil feeding according to the following main features: (a) the C22:6n-3 and C22:5n - 3 contents were increased, but C22:4n-6 remained the peculiar and major polyunsaturate; (b) the content and proportion of total PUFA did not change; (c) the proportional increase of n-3 PUFA was compensated by the decrease of n-6 PUFA, an increase in the proportion of n-9 fatty acids was also found. The sperm content of alpha-tocopherol was doubled increasing the dietary availability of the vitamin to 300 mg/kg of feed. The specific n-3 PUFA and Vitamin E enrichment of chicken sperm affected cell functions. Significant interactions between the two treatments were also found for some parameters. The best sperm quality condition in control sperm (rich mainly in n-6 PUFA) was found supplying 200mg Vitamin E/kg of feed to the male breeders, and in contrast in n-3 rich sperm supplying 300 mg Vitamin E/kg.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Chickens / physiology*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Lipid Peroxidation / physiology*
  • Lipids / analysis*
  • Male
  • Quality Control
  • Semen / cytology*
  • Spermatozoa / chemistry*
  • alpha-Tocopherol / analysis
  • alpha-Tocopherol / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • alpha-Tocopherol