Effects of cadmium and zinc on the quality of quail's eggs.

We report the effects of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) on the quality of Japanese quail's eggs. For this study, 60 birds were divided into 3 groups of 20 subjects each. The animals in group 1 received 4 mg Zn/d, whereas those in group 2 were given a combination of 4 mg Zn/d and 0.12 mg Cd/d. The quails in group 3 were not given any supplements, acting as controls. The distribution of Cd and Zn in the eggs, the eggs' mass, and the strength and thickness of the shells were determined after 35 and 58 d of supplementation. Zinc showed a positive effect on the mass of eggs and accumulated mainly in the egg white. The content of Cd was significantly lower in the egg yolk of birds in group 1 (p<0.001), whereas those in group 2 had decreased eggshell thickness and strength in comparison to groups 1 and 3 (p<0.001). These results suggest that the adverse effects of Cd on the quality parameters of eggs from commercially important bird species can be, at least in part, counteracted by Zn supplementation.

Nickel seminal concentrations in various animals and correlation to spermatozoa quality.

In this study, the concentration of nickel in stallion, bull, ram, boar and fox semen, and its relation with spermatozoa quality was analyzed. The concentration of nickel in semen was 0.20 mg kg(-1) in stallion, 0.12 mg kg(-1) in bull, 0.31 mg kg(-1) in ram, 0.06 mg kg(-1) in boar and 0.36 mg kg(-1) in fox. Seminal nickel concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in foxes than that in bulls and significantly higher (P < 0.01) in rams and foxes in comparison with boars. Evaluation of total pathological spermatozoa revealed the highest number in stallions followed by rams, bulls, boars and foxes. In bull, ram and boar semen, separated flagellum, flagellum torso and knob-twisted flagellum were predominant. Knob-twisted flagellum, separated flagellum and flagellum torso were found in increased number in stallion semen and broken flagellum in fox semen. Correlation analysis in bulls indicated a high positive correlation between seminal nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.76) and medium positive correlation between nickel and flagellum torso (r = 0.62), and in rams a high positive correlation between nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.77). Medium positive correlation was found between nickel and separated flagellum (r = 0.43) and between nickel and other pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.45) in boars.

Concentration of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel in bull and ram semen and relation to the occurrence of pathological spermatozoa.

In this study the concentration of copper, iron, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel in bull and ram semen and relation of these metals to spermatozoa morphology was investigated. Analysis by atomic absorption spectrophotometry showed that copper concentration was significantly higher (p<0.0001) in ram semen in comparison with bull semen. The zinc concentration was higher in bull semen in comparison with ram semen. The iron and cadmium concentrations in the semen were similar. Higher concentration of lead was found in ram semen. Higher levels of nickel were found in ram semen in comparison with bulls. In bull semen 11.79+/-4.88% of pathological spermatozoa was found. Higher occurrence of pathological spermatozoa was in ram semen (17.17+/-3.76) in comparison with the semen of bulls. Separated tail, tail torso, and knob twisted tail were the most frequent forms of pathological spermatozoa in both species. Correlation analysis in bulls showed high positive relation between iron and zinc (r = 0.72), nickel and separated tail (r = 0.76), separated tail and tail torso (r = 0.71), tail torso and total number of pathological spermatozoa (r=0.72), and between tail ball and total number of pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.78). In rams high positive correlation between cadmium and lead (r=0.98), nickel and separated tail (r=0.77), separated tail and total number of pathological spermatozoa (r=0.69), knob twisted tail and retention of cytoplasmic drop (r=0.78), and between knob twisted tail and other pathological spermatozoa (r = 0.71) was found. High negative correlation in ram semen was observed between copper and nickel (r=0.71), copper and separated tail (r=0.70), and between iron and tail torso (r=0.67). The results suggest that the studied metals have a direct effect on spermatozoa quality.

Seminal concentrations of trace elements in various animals and their correlations.

AIM: To determine the seminal concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, lead and nickel in bulls, rams, boars, stallions and foxes and study their correlations. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained, digested and analyzed by means of the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed statistically with the Student's t-test and Scheffe's test using PC programs SAS and Excel. RESULTS: The seminal copper concentration was significantly higher in ram [(2.49+/-0.18) mg/kg] and fox [(2.16+/-0.53) mg/kg] than that in bull [(1.64+/-0.21) mg/kg], boar [(1.64+/-0.28) mg/kg] and stallion (0.86 mg/kg). In boar a significantly higher seminal zinc concentration (171.74+/-65.72) mg/kg] was found in comparison with stallion [(86.20+/-45.88) mg/kg], bull [(83.15+/-61.61) mg/kg], ram [(60.46+/-35.37) mg/kg] and fox (13.09+/-5.22) mg/kg]. The iron concentration in semen was significantly higher in ram [(40.32+/-10.81) mg/kg), bull [(38.04+/-22.07) mg/kg] and fox [(33.16+/-24.36) mg/kg] than that in boar [(16.14+/-10.35) mg/kg] and stallion (12.68 mg/kg). The seminal cadmium concentration was relatively low [(0.05~0.12) mg/kg] in all studied species. The seminal lead concentration was the highest in ram [(0.35+/-0.68) mg/kg], which was much higher than in fox [(0.08+/-0.06) mg/kg], bull [(0.06+/-0.04) mg/kg], stallion [(0.05+/-0.05) mg/kg] and boar [0.02+/-0.03) mg/kg]. The level of seminal nickel was significantly higher in fox [(0.35+/-0.24) mg/kg] and ram [(0.31+/-0.19) mg/kg] in comparison with bull [(0.12+/-0.07) mg/kg] and boar [(0.06+/-0.08) mg/kg]. The concentration of nickel in the semen of stallion was (0.20 +/-0.24) mg/kg. There was a high positive correlation between seminal iron and zinc in bull (r=0.723) and stallion (r=0.723), between cadmium and lead in ram (r=0.976) and boar (r=0.973) and between iron and cadmium (r=0.783) and iron and lead (r=0.791) in boar. A high negative correlation between seminal nickel and copper in ram (r=-0.709) and between seminal copper and lead in fox (r=-0.854) was found. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences in the concentrations of seminal elements in different animals. There is a high concentration of seminal copper in ram and fox, a high zinc level in boar, a high iron level in bull, ram and fox and a high nickel level in ram and fox.