EFFECTS OF ASCORBIC ACID AND ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS, SERUM TESTOSTERONE AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF NIGERIAN MIXED-BREED DOGS IN ZARIA
EFFECTS OF ASCORBIC ACID AND ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS, SERUM TESTOSTERONE AND HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF NIGERIAN MIXED-BREED DOGS IN ZARIA
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Date
2012-09
Authors
MUSTAPHA, Rashidah Abimbola
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of antioxidant vitamins Ascorbic acid (AA), vitamin E (VE) and their combination (AA + VE) on semen characteristics, serum testosterone level and haematological parameters. Nine (n = 9) healthy, sexually matured, Nigerian mixed-breed male dogs aged 2-3 years with an average weight of 20 ± 2 kg were used, and were assigned into treated group of five (n = 5) and untreated group of four (n = 4). The experiment was conducted in three phases, each lasting four weeks, with an interval of four weeks between each treatment phase. Dogs (n=5) were orally treated with 5 mg/kg AA (Phase 1), or 5 mg/kg VE (Phase 2), or 5 mg/kg AA + 5 mg/kg VE (Phase 3), while the control (n=4) received 5 ml normal saline for four weeks. Semen was collected once weekly using the penile massage technique, and evaluated for physical characteristics. Blood samples were obtained via the cephalic vein using 5 ml syringe and 21G x 11/2 inch needle for haematology, and serum was extracted for determination of testosterone levels. Results were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean (mean ± S.E.M). Semen volume was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the AA-treated group (2.81 ± 0.33 mL) than in the VE-, AA+VE-treated and the control dogs (1.47 ± 0.34 mL, 1 .79 ± 0.20 ml and 1.21 ± 0.11 mL, respectively). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the VE-treated and the control group, but the AA+VE-treated group and the control group were significantly different (P < 0.05). Percentage sperm motility were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the supplemented dogs (AA = 82.50 ± 2.81 %, VE = 86.14 ± 1.90 % and AA+ VE = 86.88 ± 5.28 %) than the control (67.72 ± 2.50 %). There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the percentage mass motility among the treated groups. The values of semen concentration recorded in all treated groups were significantly higher (p <
9
0.05; AA = 308 8 ± 32.44 x 106/mL, VE = 388.10 + 28.42 x 106/mL and AA+VE = 445.30 + 19.63 x 106/mL) than in the control (198.5 ± 9.67 x 106/mL). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) observed between the VE-treated dogs and the AA+VE-treated dogs. However, the highest semen concentration was recorded in the AA+VE- treated dogs. The AA-treated group recorded the lowest value of percentage live sperm (86.33 ± 1.86 %) among the treated and control groups, and the obtained value was not significantly different from the control group (P > 0.05; 89.40 ± 0.85 %), but significantly different from the VE- and AA+VE-treated dogs (P < 0.05; 91.00 + 1.07 % and 91.59 + .75 %, respectively). The value of overall percentage sperm defects was significantly lower in the VE-treated group (P < 0.05; 2.83 ± 0.46 %) than in the AA-, AA+VE-treated and the control groups (7.02 ± 1.31 %, 6.45 ± 1.13 % and 6.32 ± 0.79, respectively). The AA-treated group recorded the highest defects among all groups. As treatment progressed, significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed among the mean serum testosterone levels among the AA-, VE-treated dogs and the control. However, there was no significant difference between the AA+VE-treated group and the control. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the values of packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration recorded in the AA+VE-supplemented group (43.67 + 2.62 % and 14.54 ± 0.54 g/dl, respectively) and those in the AA-, VE-treated and control groups. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in total and absolute leukocyte count between the treated dogs and the control. In conclusion, supplementation with the combination of vitamins C and E, or vitamin E alone in the Nigerian mixed-breed dog enhanced semen quality while supplementation with either vitamin C or E increased serum testosterone levels. Supplementation with the combined Vitamins C and E increased the erythrocytic parameters of the Nigerian mixed breed dog.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THERIOGENOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THERIOGENOLOGY AND PRODUCTION FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
EFFECTS OF ASCORBIC ACID,, ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL,, SEMEN,, SERUM TESTOSTERONE,, HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS,, NIGERIAN,, ZARIA., MIXED-BREED DOGS,