SPERM CHARACTERISTICS AND REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES OF NOILER COCKS ON HIGH SALT DIET
2nd Biennial Conference
Authors
Abstract
high salt diet in reproductive dysfunction, inflammation and oxidative stress in humans and experimental rats is
well reported. Sixteen noiler cocks (34 weeks old) were randomly divided into two groups – A (control) and B
each containing eight birds and reared for eight weeks. Group A received control diet (0.36 % salt) while group
B was placed on high salt diet (0.54% salt) for eight weeks. Blood and semen samples were collected at the end
of 8th week to evaluate sperm characteristics and serum level of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone and
luteinizing hormone. Mean ± SEM values were calculated and compared for significant differences with
independent T-test at p < 0.05. The sperm livability decreased significantly in group B when compared with group
A. The semen volume observed in group B was significantly higher than semen volume recorded in group A. The
serum concentrations of testosterone and luteinizing hormone decreased significantly in group B when compared
with group A. The mass activity, sperm motility and serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone in both
groups were not significantly different when compared.
The above results revealed that high salt diet improved semen volume but impaired reproductive capacity of the
birds by reducing sperm viability and the circulating level of reproductive hormones.
Keywords
Noiler cocks, Salt, Sperm characteristics, Reproductive hormones
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