Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the effects of increasing dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and antioxidants (Se and vitamin E) on spermatozoa morphology. At 24 weeks of age, Potchefstroom Koekoek cockerels (n = 60) were selected from the base population. Cockerels were randomly allocated into five dietary treatments with 12 cockerels per dietary treatment. The diets consisted of commercial layer diet (CL), commercial cockerel diet (CC), modified layer diet (ML), modified layer diet +PUFA (MLP), and modified layer +PUFA+ antioxidants (MLPA) diet. At 36 weeks of age, six cockerels with ≥ 75% sperm motility rate following analysis by Computer Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA) were selected from the base population in each dietary treatment group. Semen volume, sperm cells concentration and dead cells did not differ significantly among any of the groups. However, live and normal spermatozoa were significantly higher in the MLPA group. The bent mid-piece, bent mid-piece plus droplets, proximal droplets and distal droplets were significantly lower in the MLPA group. From this study it can be concluded that supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants may be of vital importance for normal morphology characteristics of spermatozoa in Potchefstroom Koekoek cockerels.
Highlights
Spermatozoa integrity and maturity are important traits for reproductive potential of cockerels [1]
Higher levels of spermatozoa damage are due to spermatozoa susceptibility to damage during a number of stages of spermatogenesis
The regulation of spermatogenesis is thought to be by means of steroids [2], such as testosterone, and does not proceed normally if the testis is deprived of endocrine support
Summary
Spermatozoa integrity and maturity are important traits for reproductive potential of cockerels [1]. Sperm damage negatively affects the quality of spermatozoa and it may result in poor fertility. High quality spermatozoa rely on normal spermatogenesis. Higher levels of spermatozoa damage are due to spermatozoa susceptibility to damage during a number of stages of spermatogenesis. Spermatozoa damage may take place within the testis, epididymis or ejaculates. The regulation of spermatogenesis is thought to be by means of steroids [2], such as testosterone, and does not proceed normally if the testis is deprived of endocrine support
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