Blood Plasma Zn Research Articles

Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Semen Quality, Sperm Antioxidant Ability, and Seminal and Blood Plasma Mineral Profiles in Cashmere Goats.

This study evaluated the effects of the different dietary zinc (Zn) levels on semen quality, on spermatozoa and seminal plasma antioxidant status, and on the seminal and blood plasma mineral status in mature male Cashmere goats during the breeding season. Twenty-eight mature male Liaoning Cashmere goats were divided into four groups based on body weight (56.2 ± 2.45 kg) and semen characteristics; these goats were fed with basal diet supplemented with 0, 20, 40, or 80 mg Zn/kg DM (zinc sulfate) for 3 months. Results showed that the Zn-supplemented diets linearly increased the semen volume (0.98, 1.04, 1.27, and 1.17 ml for the 0, 20, 40, and 80 mg Zn/kg DM supplementation, respectively) (P < 0.05) and the total sperm output (3.87, 4.52, 5.73, and 5.33 × 109/ml for the 0, 20, 40, and 80 mg Zn/kg DM supplementation, respectively) (P < 0.05); by contrast, Zn supplementation exerted no effect on sperm concentration, motility, and abnormal sperms rate. The activities of copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) (linear P < 0.05) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (linear P < 0.05; quadratic P < 0.01) were highest in the intermediate supplementation (40 mg Zn/kg DM). Moreover, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of spermatozoa decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with the increase in Zn supplementation. In seminal plasma, the highest GSH-Px activity was observed in 20 mg Zn/kg DM supplementation (P < 0.05). Catalase (CAT) activities both in the spermatozoa and seminal plasma showed no difference in all treatments. Seminal plasma Zn level was highest in 40 mg Zn/kg DM (linear P = 0.068), and K increased linearly (P = 0.001) with increasing Zn level. Furthermore, blood plasma Zn (linear P < 0.01; quadratic P < 0.05), Fe (linear P < 0.05; quadratic P < 0.05), and Mg (linear P < 0.05) increased with increasing Zn supplementation. These results indicated that dietary Zn supplementation in Cashmere goats during the breeding season improved the semen quality and quantity, elevated the antioxidative indices and Zn concentration, and decreased the MDA content both in spermatozoa and seminal plasma.

Effects of adding aluminum sulfate to different litters on selected trace elements and vitamins concentrations in broiler

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of adding aluminum sulfate to different litters on blood plasma concentrations of some principal microelements and some vitamins in broilers. In this experiment, 645 day old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 litter group (straw, sawdust, alum treated-straw and alum treated-sawdust). At the end of the experiment 10 birds (5 male + 5 female) from each of the groups were slaughtered by severing the jugular vein and sampled by taking the blood. Blood plasma concentrations of vitamin A (retinol), vitamin E (∝-tocoferol), Co, Zn and Cu were determined. Body weight measured at 6 week of age. Blood plasma Zn, Cu concentrations did not differ significantly (P≤ 0.05) among treatments, but the broilers reared in the control straw group showed lower Co concentration. The vitamin A and E levels in the serum of the broilers in the straw and saw dust groups were slightly lower than the other groups. The body weight of female in the alum treated groups at the end of the experiment was significantly higher than control groups. The body weight of male in the alum treated-sawdust group at the end of the experiment was significantly higher than the other groups. It could be concluded that amending aluminum sulfate to different litters adversely affected blood plasma concentrations and body weight of broiler.