Effects of dietary supplementation of different sources and levels of selenium on the semen quality and reproductive performance in aged broiler breeder roosters.

Fertility has a great impact on economic outcome in poultry sector. However, several physiological stressors such as aging adversely affected fertilization capacity and hatching quantity and quality. This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of different sources and levels of inorganic and organic selenium on the semen quality and reproductive performance of aged broiler breeder roosters. A total of thirty-six 50-wk-old Ross 308 roosters were randomly allocated to 6 groups and fed with different levels of organic and inorganic selenium. Treatments were included in the basal diet (control: CG), dietary supplementation of 0.15 (SeY0.15), 0.30 (SeY0.30), and 0.45 (SeY0.45) mg/kg selenium-enriched yeast (SeY), dietary supplementation of 0.30 mg/kg commercial organic selenium (Selemax), and dietary supplementation of 0.30 mg/kg sodium selenite (SS) as an inorganic source during 12 consecutive weeks. Ejaculated volume, semen quality attributes of the collected semen samples were evaluated every week. To assess fertility, hatchability and the hatched chick quality, the semen samples collected during last 2 wk of the trial were used to artificial insemination of hens. In order to measure seminiferous tube diameter and seminiferous epithelium thickness, testicular histology was also performed at the end of the experiment. Sperm motility, plasma membrane functionality and integrity, and ejaculation volume were higher in the SeY0.45 group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Fertility and hatchability rate as well as seminiferous epithelium thickness and seminiferous tube diameter were improved in the SeY0.45 compared with CG, SeY0.15 and SS groups (P < 0.05). Also hatchelling quality from roosters with SeY0.45 was higher than CG and SS groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences were noted in embryonic mortality between groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 0.45 mg SeY improved sperm quality and reproductive performance of aged broiler breeder roosters.

Attenuation of cryopreservation-induced oxidative stress by antioxidant: Impact of Coenzyme Q10 on the quality of post-thawed buck spermatozoa.

The aim of this study was to determine the quality of post-thawed buck spermatozoa by attenuation of cryopreservation-induced oxidative stress using CoQ10, a lipophilic antioxidant. Ejaculates at every sampling period were collected from four Mahabadi bucks, pooled and diluted in soybean lecithin-based extenders containing 0 (negative control, NC), 0.5 (CQ0.05), 1 (CQ1), and 1.5 (CQ1.5) µM CoQ10 and 0.9% (v/v) DMSO (positive control, PC). The diluted semen was gradually cooled to 4 °C, then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. After thawing, total motility although was significantly higher in CQ1 (53.40 ±â€¯1.83) than control groups (43.60 ±â€¯1.83% and 42.20 ±â€¯1.83%; P < 0.05), but this parameter did not differ between CQ1 and CQ1.5. Sperm viability was significantly higher in CQ1 (54.20 ±â€¯2.03%) than that of control and CQ0.5. The CQ1 and CQ1.5 led to significantly higher the plasma membrane functionality compared to control groups. Sperm abnormality was significantly lower in CQ1 than that of NC. The results also showed that MDA level was significantly lower in CQ1 and CQ1.5 compared with control and CQ0.5. The CQ1 (59.43 ±â€¯3.93%) was significantly increased mitochondrial activity compared to control groups. Although a greater value for %DFI was found in NC (10.24 ±â€¯0.48%) and PC (9.77 ±â€¯0.48%) groups compared to others, it was lower in CQ1 group (4.26 ±â€¯0.48%). In conclusion, based on our research results, 1 µM CoQ10 could protect buck spermatozoa from cryoinjury.