The effects of caffeine on the motility and viability of stallion spermatozoa at different temperature conditions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose-and time-dependent effect of caffeine treatment on the motility and viability of stallion spermatozoa at different temperatures. Six dose groups (A to F) were established with changing caffeine concentrations (from 0.625 to 10 mg/mL). The control samples were prepared by diluting the ejaculate only with physiological salt solution. The samples were examined after 0, 1, 2 and 3 h of incubation at 5 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The motility parameters were evaluated by Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer (CASA) system, and the viability was assessed by the mito-chondrial toxicity test at the end of the incubation. A positive effect of the lowest tested caffeine concentration on the motility parameters was observed throughout the incubation period at 5 degrees C. At the end of the 3h incubation, the viability in every sample in these groups, treated with any caffeine concentration, showed lower values compared to the control. At the higher incubation temperature (37 degrees C), caffeine positively affected the motility in samples B (P < 0.05) and D, E, F (P < 0.001) after 3 h of incubation; however, the viability showed a slightly decreasing tendency. Our results suggest that caffeine, in an optimal concentration, may be used as a component of stallion semen extenders

Dietary supplementation with algae and polyphenols in rabbit male: Effects on semen quality traits

In recent years, many studies have been focused on natural substances that can affect health of animals. A mix of different extracts was used as dietary supplement and it consists exclusively of natural products. Its main components are polyphenols from terrestrial and marine origins and plant polysaccharides. The effect of this supplement on reproduction has not been reviewed in the past what is a reason why its effect on the reproduction potential of male rabbits was tested. The aim of the present study is to determine effects of natural mix during 120-days long in vivo experiment on selected reproductive traits of male rabbits. Natural mix was supplemented in two different concentrations (T1 - 0.3% and T2 - 0.6%) with the basal ingredients of the conventional rabbit feed in pellet form. In our experiments, emphasis was placed on both the spermatozoa concentration and its motility parameters as well as on the properties of seminal plasma and antioxidant activity. The dietary supplementation with the natural extracts mix positively altered the quality traits of rabbit spermatozoa, but these changes were statistically not significant. In experimental T1 group a significant increase of GPx and FRAP content, both regarding the antioxidant markers profile in seminal plasma was recorded. We can conclude that the supplementation of 0.3% of natural mix did not significantly negatively affect any of the studied reproductive parameters of male rabbits, but some improvement in several antioxidant parameters was found