Oral supplementation with Scabiosa artropurperea L. aqueous extract improves the in vivo sexual behaviour, sperm quality and androgen level in rams.

ABSTRACT

The effects of an aqueous extract of Scabiosa atropurpurea L. (AES) on the reproduction potential of Queue Fine de l'Ouest rams were evaluated over 9 weeks. Eighteen mature (4-6 years old) rams (52.8 ± 2.6 kg) were divided into three groups. The control (C) group was fed oat hay ad libitum with 700 g of concentrate and the other two groups were fed the same diet supplemented with AES at 1 and 2 mg/kg body weight (AES1 and AES2, respectively). Ram sperm was collected with an artificial vagina (2 × 2 days/week) to evaluate sperm production and quality, antioxidant activity, the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and calcium concentrations. Sexual behaviour and plasma testosterone concentrations were also investigated. The administration of AES improved sexual behaviour (the duration of contact and the number of lateral approaches). The addition of AES also improved individual spermatozoa motility (C 71.7% ± 6.3%; AES1 78.3% ± 4.9%; AES2 83.8% ± 4.4%), the sperm concentration (C 5.6 ± 0.36; AES1 6.4 ± 0.81; AES2 6.7 ± 0.52 × 109 spermatozoa/mL), the ATP ratio (C 1 ± 0.08; AES1 2.1 ± 0.08; AES2 3.3 ± 0.08) and the calcium concentration (C 5.6 ± 0.24; AES1 7.7 ± 0.21; AES2 8.1 ± 0.24 mmol/L). AES treatment decreased the percentage of abnormal sperm (C 18.5% ± 1.2%; AES1 16.2% ± 1.1%; AES2 14.8% ± 0.94%) and DNA damage (C 62%; AES1 27%; AES2 33%) and was associated with elevated seminal fluid antioxidant activity (C 22 ± 0.27; AES1 27.1 ± 1.08 and AES2 27.5 ± 0.36 mmol Trolox equivalents/L) and plasma testosterone (C 8.3 ± 0.7; AES1 11.7 ± 0.4; AES2 15 ± 0.7 ng/L). In conclusion, our study suggests that S. atropurpurea may be potentially useful to enhance libido and sperm production and quality in ram.