Testicular biochemicals, sperm reserves and daily sperm production of West African dwarf bucks fed varied levels of dietary aflatoxin

Abstract

An experiment was conducted with twenty West African dwarf (WAD) bucks (5–6 months old) to assess reproductive potentials of growing WAD bucks to varied dietary aflatoxin of 0μg/kg, 50μg/kg, 100μg/kg and 150μg/kg containing in diets 1 (control) 2, 3 and 4 respectively, for a period of 12 weeks. At the end of the 12th week, the reproductive tracts of bucks were excised and homogenised in physiological saline for assessment of glucose, total protein and testosterone concentration, gonadal and extra gonadal sperm reserves. Results showed that gonadal and extra-gonadal sperm reserves of goats fed control diet (2.71×109 and 3.07×109 spermatozoa respectively) were superior (p<0.05) to those fed 50μg/kg, 100μg/kg and 150μg/kg [(1.59×109 and 2.33×109), (1.09×109 and 2.45×109) and (1.00×109 and 1.41×109) spermatozoa respectively]. Daily sperm production of bucks fed the control diet was significantly (p<0.05) higher (7.60×108 spermatozoa/testis) than those fed 50μg/kg (4.47×108), 100μg/kg (3.07×108) and 150μg/kg (2.80×108 spermatozoa/testis). Sperm production efficiency also follows the same trend as daily sperm production. Glucose and total protein concentration in the testes declined significantly as the aflatoxin level increases in the diets. Testosterone level was significantly lower in goats fed 100μg/kg than others. The study suggest that exposure of male goats to dietary aflatoxin up to 50μg/kg diet will reduced testicular biochemical and testosterone with resultant depression in sperm storage capability and daily sperm production in the animals.