The Impact of Rumen-Protected L-Arginine Oral Supplementation on Libido, Semen Quality, Reproductive Organ Biometry, and Serum Biochemical Parameters of Rams.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of oral supplementation of rumen-protected L-arginine on semen quality, testes, and accessory genital glands biometry in rams. Ten apparently healthy and fertile rams were randomly divided into two equal groups; control, and rumen-protected L-arginine (20 mg/Kg body weight for 30 days) treated group. In all rams, ultrasonographic measurements of the testes and the accessory genital glands and blood sampling were performed at day (D)10, D20, and D30 (D0 is the start of supplementation). Semen ejaculates were collected twice/week and semen quantity, and quality was examined. Our results showed that, in the L-arginine treated group, there were significant increase in the ultrasound biometric measurement of right seminal vesicle (RSV) and right Cowper's gland (RCG) at D10, both testes, tail of the epididymis (TE), SV, and CG of both sides at D20, and of both testes, RTE, RSV, RCG, and LSV at D30. Semen quality and quantity parameters were significantly improved in L-arginine treated group. Moreover, testosterone level in the L-arginine treated group was significantly higher than that in the Control group. Serum thyroxine and glutathione peroxidase concentrations were significantly higher in the L-arginine treated group. The present study concluded that oral supplementation with rumen-protected L-arginine is beneficial in improvement of rams' fertility.

Clinical and Correlated Responses among Steroid Hormones and Oxidant/Antioxidant Biomarkers in Pregnant, Non-Pregnant and Lactating CIDR-Pre-Synchronized Dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius).

Overproduction of free radicals is controlled by antioxidant defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms are achieved by antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT). The current study aimed to assess the changes in steroid hormones, oxidant/antioxidants biomarkers, lipid profiles/liver functions indices, renal function biomarkers and minerals metabolism in non-pregnant, lactating or pregnant one-humped she-camels (Camelus dromedarius) pre-synchronized with controlled internal drug releasing. The study also focused on the correlational relationships between steroid hormones and the oxidant/antioxidant biomarkers, lipid profiles and liver functions indices, renal functions and mineral metabolism in these she-camels. The study was conducted on apparently healthy dromedary she-camels (n = 60) during breeding season. A sexually active camel-bull was introduced to she-camels pre-synchronized with CIDR. Fifty to sixty days after natural mating, she-camels were examined for pregnancy. She-camels were divided into three main groups according to both pregnancy and lactation as following: pregnant (PREG, n = 38) which was kept as control one, non-pregnant and lactating (LACT, n = 8), and non-pregnant and non-lactating she-camels (NPREG, n= 14). Steroid hormones, i.e., progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2) and cortisol, oxidant indictors, i.e., malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant biomarkers, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), CAT and reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid profiles indices, renal functions and related minerals were assessed. The present study confirmed the efficacy of using CIDR for synchronization in she-camels. Significant elevations in serum steroids hormones in PREG compare with LACT and NPREG. The highest concentrations of MDA as lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress indictors and lowest levels of antioxidant biomarkers except for SOD, i.e., TAC, CAT and GSH, were reported in PREG compared with LACT and NPREG. PREG showed the highest liver enzymes activities and lowest total protein values. Remarkable increases in serum concentrations of renal function parameters and phosphorous (P) were observed in PREG when compared with the other two groups. The investigated she-camels revealed significant correlation between steroid hormones and the oxidant biomarkers, antioxidant biomarkers, liver functions, renal functions and minerals metabolism parameters. P4 showed positive correlations with antioxidant biomarkers, i.e., TAC, CAT and GSH, and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, whereas negative correlations were reported between P4 and renal functions biomarkers, i.e., blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and creatinine kinase (CK), and minerals metabolism parameters, i.e., P and magnesium (Mg), in CIDR pre-synchronized she-camels. In contrast, E2 and cortisol showed negative correlations with antioxidant biomarkers, i.e., TAC, CAT and GSH, lipid profiles/liver functions indices, i.e., AST, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), CK and Mg, however, positive correlations were demonstrated between E2 and cortisol, and MDA, Cr and P in investigated she-camels. In conclusion, the present study confirmed the efficacy of using CIDR for synchronization in she-camels. The highest MDA levels as indictors for oxidative stress and the lowest antioxidant levels, i.e., TAC, CAT and GSH, except for SOD in pregnant she-camels, were attributable to physiological oxidative stress as excellent compensatory responses observed in the PREG group to face such a physiologic stage. Moreover, lower P levels in non-pregnant she-camels would be contributed to failure of conception or early embryonic death. The investigated she-camels revealed significant correlations between steroid hormones and the oxidant indicators, antioxidant biomarkers, lipid profile indices and renal functions biomarkers that provided better understanding for physiological stress during pregnancy in camels.