Linseed oil in boar's diet improved in vivo fertility and antioxidant status.

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are produced during storage of boar semen are causing oxidative stress and leads to poor fertility. Also, tropical and sub-tropical weather condition adversely impacts the physicomorphological quality and fertility of boar sperm. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of feeding linseed oil to boar on its seminal attributes, sperm kinetics, biomarkers of antioxidant, fatty acid profile of seminal plasma (SP) and sperm and in vivo fertility. Six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed with 90 ml linseed oil (LIN) whereas six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed 90 ml canola oil (CON) for 16 weeks. Sperm quality was evaluated (60 ejaculates for each group; a total of 120 ejaculates) for motility, livability, abnormal morphology, acrosomal membrane integrity, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) and sperm kinetic parameters by computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) at 0 h and at 72 h of storage at 17°C. Biomarkers of antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase; GPx, catalase; CAT, total antioxidant capacity; TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in SP and serum. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the estimation of fatty acid composition of SP and sperm. Boars fed with linseed oil had higher semen volume (p < .01) and more total sperm numbers (p < .01). Feeding linseed oil to boar enhanced seminal attributes (p < .05) at 0 h as well as at 72 h of storage. Linseed oil feeding (p < .01) improved biomarkers of antioxidants and significantly (p < .01) lowered the lipid peroxidation in serum and SP. Linseed oil feeding (p < .05) increased the proportion of alpha linolenic (ALA), arachidonic and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids in SP. The ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids in sperm increased significantly (p < .01) in treatment group. Farrowing rate was significantly (p < .05) higher in treatment group. In conclusion, feeding linseed oil to boar improved the in vivo fertility, enhanced antioxidant capacity and increased the DHA content of SP and sperm.

Linseed oil in boar's diet during high temperature humidity index (THI) period improves sperm quality characteristics, antioxidant status and fatty acid composition of sperm under hot humid sub-tropical climate.

Environmental heat stress in sub-tropical climates negatively impacts boar semen production and its quality. The present study aimed to examine the heat stress alleviating effects of dietary linseed oil on semen quality and antioxidant status of boar, in the summer and winter seasons in sub-tropical climate. Six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed with 90 mL linseed oil (treatment) whereas six boars of the same breed were fed 90 mL vegetable oil (control) for sixteen weeks during both season. Sperm quality was assessed for motility, viability, abnormality, acrosomal integrity, and Hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). Sperm velocity attributes were assessed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase; GPx, catalase; CAT, total antioxidant capacity; TAC and nitric oxide; NO) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde; MDA) were measured in seminal plasma and serum. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the estimation of fatty acid composition of seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Feeding linseed oil to the boars significantly (p < 0.05) improved sperm quality at the fresh stage and after 72 h of liquid storage in both season. There was a significant (p < 0.01) effect of treatment and season on semen quality parameters. Significant boar (p < 0.05) effect was recorded on reaction time, semen volume, sperm abnormality, acrosomal integrity and HOST reactive sperm. There was a significant (p < 0.01) effect of treatment and season on the velocity attributes viz. VAP, VSL, VCL, ALH, BCF and STR%. Linseed oil supplementation significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced antioxidant and lowered MDA levels in serum as well as seminal plasma. The concentration of alpha-linolenic (ALA), arachidonic and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids were significantly (p < 0.01) increased in seminal plasma and sperm after linseed oil supplementation. In conclusion, linseed oil supplementation to boar during high THI months improved the semen quality parameters viz. semen volume, sperm concentration, and progressive motile sperm, along with enhanced antioxidant capacity.

Dietary flaxseed oil improve boar semen quality, antioxidant status and in-vivo fertility in humid sub-tropical region of North East India.

Environmental stress in the form of high temperature humidity index (THI) in tropical and sub-tropical region negatively affects semen quality and fertility of boar. Therefore, the present study was done to evaluate the effect of supplementing flaxseed oil (FLO) to boar's diet on its semen quality, antioxidant status, fatty acid composition of seminal plasma and fertility under sub-tropical climate. For this purpose, six Hampshire crossbreed (50% Hampshire and 50% Gunghroo) boars were divided into two groups i.e control (CON) and treatment (FLO). In FLO and CON group, flaxseed and vegetable oil, respectively, was top dressed at the rate of 3% in basal diets for each boar on daily basis for 16 weeks during monsoon season. A total of 60 ejaculates, comprising 30 ejaculates from each group (ten ejaculates from each boar) were collected. Semen samples were evaluated for sperm quality parameters (SQPs: motility, viability, abnormality, acrosomal integrity and Hypo-osmotic swelling test) and velocity attributes by computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) at fresh and after 72 h of preservation at 17 °C. Antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase; GPx, catalase; CAT, total antioxidant capacity; TAC and malondialdehyde; MDA) were analyzed in seminal plasma and serum. Fatty acid compositions of seminal plasma were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In-vivo fertility study was also conducted. Reaction time and false mounts were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in FLO group as compared to CON group. Semen quality parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) improved at fresh stage and after 72 h of liquid storage in FLO group as compared to CON group. Velocity attributes (VAP, VSL, VCL, ALH, BCF and LIN) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in FLO group. Flaxseed oil supplementation significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced serum GPx and CAT concentration. Serum and seminal plasma MDA concentration decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in FLO group. Similarly, GPx, TAC and CAT were significantly (p < 0.01) elevated in seminal plasma of FLO group. The study revealed that feeding of flaxseed oil altered the fatty acid composition of seminal plasma and significantly (p < 0.05) improved the farrowing rate. In summary, flaxseed oil supplementation improved the semen quality parameters and fertility of boars in sub-tropical climate by improving the antioxidant capacity and altering the fatty acid composition of seminal plasma.