Effects of dietary supplementation of conjugated linoleic acids and their inclusion in semen extenders on bovine sperm quality
Date
2021-02-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) enhances circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels. Furthermore, fertility rate of breeding bulls is positively correlated to seminal plasma IGF-I concentration. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of dietary CLA supplementation and inclusion to the semen extender on bovine semen quality and freezability. Fourteen bulls, randomly assigned to control (CTL) and CLA (50 g/day) groups, were supplemented for 10 weeks. Samples were collected at Weeks −2 (before supplementation), 0, 4, 6 (during supplementation), 10, and 11 (after supplementation). Blood and seminal plasma were analyzed for IGF-I; the ejaculates were frozen in the following subgroups: CTL (no addition to semen extender), CLA c9, t11 (50 µM), CLA c9, t11 (100 µM), CLA t10, c12 (50 µM), CLA t10, c12 (100 µM), and CLA mix (50 µM each of CLA c9, t11 and CLA t10, c12). Sperm motility, morphology, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxidative species were assessed. CLA supplementation decreased ejaculates’ total volume, increased sperm concentration, beat cross frequency, and decreased oxidative stress; it also increased plasma and seminal plasma IGF-I levels compared to the CTL. The inclusion of CLA c9, t11 100 µM and CLA mixture in the extender increased live spermatozoa percentage post-thawing compared to other groups. Our results show a beneficial effect of CLA supplementation on semen quality; however, further studies evaluating fertilization rates are necessary to corroborate the results.
Description
CITATION: Liman, M. S., et al. 2021. Effects of dietary supplementation of conjugated linoleic acids and their inclusion in semen extenders on bovine sperm quality. Animals, 11(2):483, doi:10.3390/ani11020483.
The original publication is available at http://www.mdpi.com
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
The original publication is available at http://www.mdpi.com
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund
Keywords
Flow cytometry, Infertility in animals, Conjugated linoleic acids, Linoleic acid -- Physiological effect, Semen -- Evaluation, Insulin-like growth factor I
Citation
Liman, M. S., et al. 2021. Effects of dietary supplementation of conjugated linoleic acids and their inclusion in semen extenders on bovine sperm quality. Animals, 11(2):483, doi:10.3390/ani11020483