107 Administration of antioxidants improves serum total antioxidant capacity, testosterone, and seminal quality of Magra rams

Abstract

Oxidative stress is one of the most important factors responsible for poor quality of semen, and it is defined as an imbalance between the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS, including hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions, and hydrogen peroxide) and antioxidant capacity of semen. Antioxidants act as a powerful defence system against ROS attack in sperm cells by decreasing oxidative stress and they improve semen quality, which could be useful in the management of male infertility. Magra is a dual-purpose (wool and meat) hardy sheep breed that originated in the eastern and southern parts of the Bikaner district of Rajasthan, India. The present study evaluated the effects of the administration of vitamin E with selenium or vitamin C on serum antioxidants, testosterone, and seminal quality of Magra rams. Twenty-one Magra rams, aged between 1.5 and 2.5 years, were randomly assigned to treatment at weekly intervals with administration of either 1 mL of vitamin E (tocopherol, 50 mg mL⁻¹) and selenium (1.5 mg sodium selenite; n = 7; VES), 8 mL of vitamin C (250 mg mL⁻¹ sodium ascorbate; n = 7; VC), or 1 mL of saline (n = 7; control) subcutaneously for 5 consecutive weeks. After the fourth week, semen and blood were collected twice a week for 5 consecutive weeks and assayed for seminal quality parameters, serum testosterone, and serum antioxidants. Data obtained were analysed statistically using te SPSS software (version 25.0; IBM Corp.). Mean values were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test. The semen parameters sperm motility, sperm concentration, live sperm percentage, and % HOST (hypo-osmotic swelling test)-positive sperm were significantly elevated, whereas reaction time and percentage of abnormal sperm were lower in both the treated groups compared with controls (P < 0.05). Seminal pH declined significantly in the VES group (P < 0.05), whereas it was not different between the VC and control groups of rams (P > 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity concentrations were higher in serum and seminal plasma of treated rams (P < 0.05). Serum testosterone concentrations were significantly elevated in VES and VC groups (P < 0.05). We concluded that the administration of vitamin E and selenium or vitamin C improves the serum testosterone production and seminal quality of rams.