Effect of Dietary L-Carnitine Supplementation on Characteristics of Cobb's Semen
Subject Areas : Poultry Reproduction
1 - Department of Reproductive Technology in Veterinary Medicine, Eqlid Branch, Islamic Azad University, Eqlid, Iran
2 - Department of Animal Science, Sharh-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Cobb, L-carnitine, membrane integrity, rooster, sperm motility,
Abstract :
Good semen quality plays a very important role in promoting poultry breeding programs; due to its antioxi-dant properties and role in fat metabolism, L-carnitine seems to be effective in improving semen quality. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on the motility parameters and qualitative traits in semen Cobb breed roosters. A total of twenty roosters, 24 weeks-old Cobb roosters randomly assigned to four experimental groups. The experimental design was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 experimental treatments (T1: 0, T2: 125, T3: 250, and T4: 500 mg L-carnitine per kg diet) with 5 replications and sampling twice (semen collection) with an in-terval of 14 days. The collected semen was immediately evaluated for motility parameters and sperm qual-ity traits. The results showed that there is no significant difference between the levels of 250 and 500 mg of L-carnitine in semen parameters, but there are significant differences with other groups (P≤0.05). Semen collection time did not affect sperm parameters (P≤0.05). In conclusion, the addition of L-carnitine at a rate of 250 mg/kg diet can improve motility parameters and sperm quality traits in the Cobb rooster.
Abd-Elrazek A.M. and Ahmed-Farid O.A. (2018). Protective effect of L-carnitine and L-arginine against busulfan-induced oligospermia in adult rats. Andrologia. 50(1), 21-29.
Abedpour A., Jalali S.M. and Kheiri F. (2017). Effect of vegetable oil source and L-carnitine supplements on growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood biochemical parameters of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). Iranian. J. Appl. Anim. Sci. 7(1), 147-153.
Aboul-Naga A.M., Hamam E.T., Awadalla A. and Shokeir A.A. (2020). The protective role of l-carnitine on spermatogenesis after cisplatin treatment during prepubertal period in rats: A pathophysiological study. Life Sci. 258, 1-8.
Adabi S.G., Babaei A.H., Lotfollahian H., Farahvash T. and Pour F.M. (2008). L-carnitine effect on quantity and quality of African black neck ostrich sperm. Asian J. Anim. Vet. Adv. 3(5), 369-374.
Ahangari Y., Parizadian B., Akhlaghi A. and Sardarzadeh A. (2014). Effect of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on semen characteristics of male Japanese quail. Compar. Clin. Pathol. 23, 21-27.
Aitken R.J., Clarkson J.S., Hargreave T.B., Irvine D.S. and Wu F.C. (1989). Analysis of the relationship between defective sperm function and the generation of reactive oxygen species in cases of oligozoospermia. J. Androl. 10(3), 214-220.
Alahmar A.T. (2019). Role of oxidative stress in male infertility: an updated review. J. Hum. Reprod. Sci. 12(1), 4-18.
Al-Daraji H. (2014). Effect of L-carnitine on fertility, hatchability and sex hormones in duck breeder. J. Vet. Sci. 4, 608-613.
Al-Daraji H.J. and Tahir A.O. (2014). Effect of L-carnitine supplementation on drake semen quality. South African. J. Ani. Sci. 44, 18-25.
Almeida S., Rato L., Sousa M., Alves M.G. and Oliveira P.F. (2017). Fertility and sperm quality in the aging male. Curr. Pharm. Des. 23(30), 4429-4437.
Bisht S., Faiq M., Tolahunase M. and Dada R. (2017). Oxidative stress and male infertility. Nat. Rev. Urol. 14(8), 470-485.
Dimitrov S.G., Atanasov V.K., Surai P.F. and Denev S.A. (2007). Effect of organic selenium on Turkey semen quality during liquid storage. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 100(3), 311-317.
Elokil A.A., Liu H., Mona N. and Hafiz I. (2019). The capability of L-carnitine-mediated antioxidant on cock during aging: Evidence for the improved semen quality and enhanced testicular expressions of GnRH1, GnRHR, and melatonin receptors MT 1/2. Poult. Sci. 98(9), 4172-4181.
García-Herreros M. (2016). Sperm subpopulations in avian species: A comparative study between the rooster (Gallus domesticus) and Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). Asian J. Androl. 18(6), 889-894.
Golzar Adabi S., Cooper R.G., Ceylan N. and Corduk M. (2011). L-carnitine and its functional effects in poultry nutrition. World's Poult. Sci. J. 67(2), 277-296.
Hancock J. (1951). A staining technique for the study of temperature-shock in semen. Nature. 167(42), 323-324.
Haseen Ahmed S.D., Ahsan S., Iqbal T. and Ahmed Burney S.I. (2017). Relationship of seminal free L-Carnitine with functional spermatozoal characteristics: Results from an observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi. J. Pak. Med. Assoc. 67(2), 280-284.
Ko E.Y., Sabanegh E.S. and Agarwal A. (2014). Male infertility testing: Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant capacity. Fertil. Steril. 102(6), 1518-1527.
Kozink D., Estienne M., Harper A. and Knight J. (2004). Effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on semen characteristics in boars. Theriogenology. 61(7), 1247-1258.
Kucera A. and Heidinger B. (2018). Avian Semen Collection by Cloacal Massage and Isolation of DNA from Sperm. J. Vis. Exp. 132, 55324-55332.
Li K., Li W. and Huang Y. (2007). Determination of free L-carnitine in human seminal plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with pre-column ultraviolet derivatization and its clinical application in male infertility. Clin. Chim. Acta. 378(1), 159-163.
Martínez-Páramo S., Diogo P., Dinis M.T., Herráez M.P., Sarasquete C. and Cabrita E. (2012). Incorporation of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol to the extender media to enhance antioxidant system of cryopreserved sea bass sperm. Theriogenology. 77(6), 1129-1136.
Micic S., Lalic N., Djordjevic D., Bojanic N., Bogavac-Stanojevic N., Busetto G.M., Virmani A. and Agarwal A. (2019). Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of L-carnitine and L-acetylcarnitine on sperm parameters in men with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia. Andrologia. 51(6), e13267.
Moradi M., Moradi A., Alemi M., Ahmadnia H., Abdi H., Ahmadi A. and Bazargan-Hejazi S. (2010). Safety and efficacy of clomiphene citrate and L-carnitine in idiopathic male infertility: a comparative study. Urol. J. 7(3), 188-193.
Neuman S.L., Lin T.L. and Heste P.Y. (2002). The effect of dietary carnitine on semen traits of white Leghorn roosters. Poult. Sci. 81(4), 495-503.
Olfert E.D., Cross B.M. and McWilliam A.A. (1993). Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals. Council on Animal Care, Ottawa, Canada.
Peña F.J., Johannisson A., Wallgren M. and Rodríguez-Martínez H. (2003). Assessment of fresh and frozen-thawed boar semen using an Annexin-V assay: a new method of evaluating sperm membrane integrity. Theriogenology. 60(4), 677-689.
Prochowska S., Niżański W. and Fontbonne A. (2022). Hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) for feline spermatozoa: The simplified procedure and the aspect of sperm morphology. Animals. 12(7), 903-912.
Santolaria P., Rickard J.P. and Pérez-Pe R. (2023). Understanding sperm quality for improved reproductive performance. Biology. 12(7), 980-988.
Sarica S., Corduk M., Suicmez M., Cedden F., Yildirim M. and Kilinc K. (2007). The effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on semen traits, reproductive parameters, and testicular histology of Japanese quail breeders. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 16(2), 178-186.
SAS Institute. (2004). SAS®/STAT Software, Release 9.4. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC. USA.
Shanmugam M., Niranjan M. and Rama Rao S.V. (2022). Effect of Dietary L-carnitine Supplementation on Semen Quality Parameters in Dahlem Red Chicken. CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom.
Sheikh N., Goodarzi M., Bab Al-Havaejee H., Safari M., Amiri I., Najafi R. and Hadeie J. (2007). L-carnitine level in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men. J. Res. Health Sci. 7(1), 43-48.
Torres-Arce E., Vizmanos-Lamotte B., Babio N., Márquez-Sandoval F. and Salas-Huetos A. (2021). Dietary antioxidants in the treatment of male infertility: Counteracting oxidative stress. Biology. 10, 241-247.
Walczak-Jedrzejowska R., Wolski J.K. and Slowikowska-Hilczer J. (2013). The role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in male fertility. Cent. European J. Urol. 66(1), 60-67.
Yang Y., Zhang Y. and Ding J. (2019). Optimal analysis conditions for sperm motility parameters with a CASA system in a passerine bird, Passer montanus. Avian Res. 10(35), 12-21.
Yang K., Wang N., Guo H.T., Wang J.R., Sun H.H., Sun L.Z., Yue S.L. and Zhou J.B. (2020). Effect of L-carnitine on sperm quality during liquid storage of boar semen. Asian-Australasian J. Anim. Sci. 33(11), 1763-1769.
Yeste M., Sancho S., Briz M., Pinart E., Bussalleu E. and Bonet S. (2009). A diet supplemented with L-carnitine improves the sperm quality of Piétrain but not of Duroc and Large White boars when photoperiod and temperature increase. Theriogenology. 73, 577-586.
Zhai W., Neuman S.L., Latour M.A. and Hester P.Y. (2007). The effect of dietary L-carnitine on semen traits of White Leg-horns. Poult. Sci. 86(10), 2228-2235.