The stallion for reproductive aims is chosen on the basis of its appearance, performance, pedigree andlineage. The ideal stallion is dominant in the transmission of its genetic heritage. Sometimes, for ageing oroverexploitation, the reproductive performances of good stallions get worse. It often occurs the necessity,in these cases, to improve the fertilizing capacity aimed to the conservation of semen for assisted reproductivetechnologies (ART) with safe and effective methods. The sperm cells, especially the damaged ones,produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS include radicals like hydroxyl ions, superoxide, peroxyls andothers (1). A certain, still low, concentration of ROS is necessary for the sperm function like capacitation,hyperactivation, acrosome integrity and sperm-oocyte fusion (2), but ROS become detrimental at excessiveamounts or if it occurs a low antioxidant status or both. In the case of metabolic oxidative stress, however,provoked by imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant barrier, impaired sperm function may occurdue to the rising of a series of chain reactions, in the course of which the radicalic sites can be transferredto the biomacromolecules, e.g. lipids, that compose the cell structures. The sperm is very sensitive to lipidperoxidation because its plasma membrane is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially in thelong-chain PUFA docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid (3). Lepidium meyenii (Maca) is a traditionalAndean crop that grows best at high altitudes in the Peruvian Highlands. It owns aphrodisiac andfertility-enhancing properties. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Maca diet supplementationon lipid peroxidation of horse ejaculates. In the experimental group of 2 hypofertiles (H) and 2 fertiles (F)stallions, the hypofertile (HM) one and the fertile (FM) one were administered Maca for 60 days, 20 g/dayin the food. The remaining two stallions were the control ones (H and F). Ejaculate was withdrawn fromeach horse at day 0 and every 15 days for four times and processed for cooling at 5C and stored up to 72h.For each sample the degree of semen lipoxidation (LP sperm) was assessed. The results show a reductionof semen lipoxidation in both HM and FM, respect to H and F, and the same effect was observed during thestorage in treated stallions too. In particular, we found a more steady decrease of lipoxidation in HM respectto H. Further, Maca showed benefit effects in sexual behavior, in fact HM was able to ejaculate during thefirst jump of the last withdrawal. In conclusion, the data obtained suggest a beneficial effect of Maca onreproductive function and performances.1) Makker K. et al. Oxidative stress and male infertility. Indian J. Med. Res. 129, 357-367, 2009;2) Awda B.J. et al. Reactive oxygen species and boar sperm function. Biol. Reprod. 81, 553-561, 2009;3) Brinsko S.P. et al. Cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in sperm of stallions with unexplained subfertility.Anim. Reprod. Sci. 89, 217-219, 2005.
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF DIET LEPIDIUM MEYENII (MACA) SUPPLEMENTATION ON STALLION SEMEN LIPOXIDATION
DEL PRETE, CHIARA;
2015-01-01
Abstract
The stallion for reproductive aims is chosen on the basis of its appearance, performance, pedigree andlineage. The ideal stallion is dominant in the transmission of its genetic heritage. Sometimes, for ageing oroverexploitation, the reproductive performances of good stallions get worse. It often occurs the necessity,in these cases, to improve the fertilizing capacity aimed to the conservation of semen for assisted reproductivetechnologies (ART) with safe and effective methods. The sperm cells, especially the damaged ones,produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS include radicals like hydroxyl ions, superoxide, peroxyls andothers (1). A certain, still low, concentration of ROS is necessary for the sperm function like capacitation,hyperactivation, acrosome integrity and sperm-oocyte fusion (2), but ROS become detrimental at excessiveamounts or if it occurs a low antioxidant status or both. In the case of metabolic oxidative stress, however,provoked by imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant barrier, impaired sperm function may occurdue to the rising of a series of chain reactions, in the course of which the radicalic sites can be transferredto the biomacromolecules, e.g. lipids, that compose the cell structures. The sperm is very sensitive to lipidperoxidation because its plasma membrane is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially in thelong-chain PUFA docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid (3). Lepidium meyenii (Maca) is a traditionalAndean crop that grows best at high altitudes in the Peruvian Highlands. It owns aphrodisiac andfertility-enhancing properties. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Maca diet supplementationon lipid peroxidation of horse ejaculates. In the experimental group of 2 hypofertiles (H) and 2 fertiles (F)stallions, the hypofertile (HM) one and the fertile (FM) one were administered Maca for 60 days, 20 g/dayin the food. The remaining two stallions were the control ones (H and F). Ejaculate was withdrawn fromeach horse at day 0 and every 15 days for four times and processed for cooling at 5C and stored up to 72h.For each sample the degree of semen lipoxidation (LP sperm) was assessed. The results show a reductionof semen lipoxidation in both HM and FM, respect to H and F, and the same effect was observed during thestorage in treated stallions too. In particular, we found a more steady decrease of lipoxidation in HM respectto H. Further, Maca showed benefit effects in sexual behavior, in fact HM was able to ejaculate during thefirst jump of the last withdrawal. In conclusion, the data obtained suggest a beneficial effect of Maca onreproductive function and performances.1) Makker K. et al. Oxidative stress and male infertility. Indian J. Med. Res. 129, 357-367, 2009;2) Awda B.J. et al. Reactive oxygen species and boar sperm function. Biol. Reprod. 81, 553-561, 2009;3) Brinsko S.P. et al. Cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in sperm of stallions with unexplained subfertility.Anim. Reprod. Sci. 89, 217-219, 2005.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
