Increased sperm cell production in ageing roosters by an oral treatment with an aromatase inhibitor and a natural herbal extract designed for improving fertility.

Rooster fertility peaks between 30 and 40 weeks of age and declines rapidly from 50 weeks of age. This is linked to a reduction in the number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate due to high density of spermatids in the seminiferous tubules of low-fertility roosters. In this study, we assessed the effects over spermatogenesis of both letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, and a commercial herbal extract designed for improving fertility composed by Tribulus, Cinnamomum, Zingiber and Sativus. Forty-two-week-old Ross 308 roosters (n = 24) were distributed into four groups: control, letrozole (0.03 mg/kg), herbal extract (0.04 ml/kg) and letrozole+herbal extract. After 14 weeks of daily oral supplementation, their testes and epididymides were weighed, fixed and sectioned for assessment of spermatogenesis and quantification of sperm cells inside the lumen. Differences in seminiferous tubules measurements and density of sperm cells were tested using R software (version 3.0.1). Although body weight was not affected by the treatment, testes from animals treated with the combination of letrozole and herbal extracts were heavier than those from control animals. Animals treated with either letrozole or herbal extract, or their combination, showed a significant higher number of sperm cells inside the seminiferous tubules and epididymis than control animals (p < .05). These data suggest that the use of letrozole and the herbal extract could improve sperm cell production in ageing roosters. Future studies are needed to disclose the causal mechanisms involved and its effect on fertility and ejaculate features.

Reproductive performance of breeder quails fed diets supplemented with L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles on reproductive performance in breeder quails. The five treatment diets consisted of (i) negative control diet not supplemented with iron, (ii) positive control diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg of Fe3 O4 and (iii) experimental diets supplemented with 0.6, 6 and 60 mg/kg of L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. A total of 100 seven-day-old quail chicks were weighed and randomly placed to five groups of five replicate cages. Four quails (one male and three females) were raised in each cage (50 × 15 × 17 cm). Egg production, feed consumption and egg weight were recorded daily and calculated on a hen per day basis. Egg components, fertility, hatchability and day-old chicks hatched from their eggs were measured at the end of the experiment. The percentage of egg production and egg mass of the 6 mg/kg Fe3 O4 -Cys NPs group were significantly higher than those of the control groups. Throughout the experimental period, the highest weekly egg weight was recorded for the 60 mg/kg Fe3 O4 -Cys NPs group. Fertility was improved by diet supplemented with iron, both FeSO4 and Fe3 O4 -Cys NPs. The breeder fed Fe3 O4 -Cys NPs had the highest day-old chicks weight. The results of this study showed that Fe3 O4 nanoparticles that were coated by L-cysteine could improve availability and utilization of iron in diet. Finally, it was proposed that Fe3 O4 -Cys NPs could be used as feed additives in quails.