Physiological and Pathological Roles of Free Radicals in Male Reproduction

Oxidative stress (OS) is a condition caused by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) overgeneration and decreased antioxidant defense mechanisms in the cell. OS has become a prominent factor in male reproductive dysfunction as ROS cause damage to sperm DNA, lipids and proteins, alterations to critical sperm structures and signaling pathways, leading to a decreased sperm activity and fertilizing capacity. At the same time, small amounts of ROS play vital roles in events leading to sperm maturation and acquisition of functional activity, which is why a proper oxidative balance is of paramount importance for a proper male fertility. Understanding the physiological and pathological roles of ROS in male reproduction has become an essential pillar of modern andrology; however, numerous questions related to the controversial behavior of ROS in male reproductive cells and tissues still remain unanswered. This chapter aims to summarize current evidence available on the relationships between free radicals, antioxidants and male reproduction and to trigger more scientific interest, particularly with respect to the design of efficient strategies to diagnose or treat male sub- or infertility associated with OS

EFFECT OF ZEOLITE (CLINOPTILOLITE) ON CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF RABBIT MEAT

This work is aimed to evaluate the effect of natural zeolite on selected parameters of the rabbit's meat chemical composition. The rabbits of the Castorex breed (n=12) were divided into two groups: Control group C (n=6) without the addition of zeolite in feed and the experimental group Z (n=6) in which animals received zeolite daily in a peroral form in concentration 0.2 g/kg of body weight. Determination of the nutritional composition of rabbit meat and analysis of individual amino acids and fatty acids was performed by the Nicolet 6700 using FT-IR method (fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) in the musculus Longissimus dorsi (MLD) and the musculus Vastus lateralis (MVL). The content of water in meat in group Z (73.630 ± 0.270 g * 100g-1) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to group C (72.480 ± 0.530 g * 100g-1). Cysteine content in MLD in group Z (0.289 ± 0.007 g*100 g-1) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in group C (0.277 ± 0.011 g*100 g-1). Another noticeable difference in the statistical level p < 0.05 in favor of zeolite was found in linoleic acid content in MLD with mean values in group Z (0.324 ± 0.016 g*100g-1 FAME) against the group C (0.293 ± 0.009 g* 100 g-1 FAME). Therefore, the addition of zeolite to the rabbit feeding diet possibly increases the proportion of essential linoleic fatty acid and thereby may improve the nutritional value of the meat. Increased cysteine value can lead to a better degradation of heavy metals in meat

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

Correlated Response to Selection for Litter Size Residual Variability in Rabbits' Body Condition

[EN] Selection for decreasing litter size residual variance has been proposed as an indirect way to select for resilience. Resilience has been directly related to welfare. A good body condition and efficient body fat mobilization have been associated with an optimal level of animal welfare. Two rabbit lines have been divergently selected for litter size residual variability. The low line selected for decreasing litter size variance more efficiently managed the body fat from mating to weaning in the second productive cycle in females compared to the high line, which could be related to the lower culling rate reported previously in the low line. Therefore, body condition can be used as a useful biomarker of resilience. A divergent selection experiment for residual variance of litter size at birth was carried out in rabbits during twelve generations. Residual variance of litter size was estimated as the within-doe variance of litter size after pre-correction for year and season as well as parity and lactation status effects. The aim of this work was to study the correlated response to selection for litter size residual variability in body condition from mating to weaning. Body condition is related directly to an animal's fat deposits. Perirenal fat is the main fat deposit in rabbits. Individual body weight (IBW) and perirenal fat thickness (PFT) were used to measure body condition at second mating, delivery, 10 days after delivery, and weaning. Litter size of the first three parities was analyzed. Both lines decreased body condition between mating to delivery; however, the decrease in body condition at delivery was lower in the low line, despite this line having higher litter size at birth (+0.54 kits, p = 0.93). The increment of body condition between delivery and early lactation was slightly higher in the low line. On the other hand, body condition affected success of females' receptivity and fertility at the third mating, e.g., receptive females showed a higher IBW and PFT than unreceptive ones (+129 g and +0.28 mm, respectively), and fertile females had a higher IBW and PFT than unfertile ones (+82 g and +0.28 mm, respectively). In conclusion, the does selected for reducing litter size variability showed a better deal with situations of high-energy demand, such as delivery and lactation, than those selected for increasing litter size variability, which would agree with the better health and welfare condition in the low line.This research was supported by Project AGL2017-86083-C2-2-P, funding by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MIC)-Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI) and el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER).Agea, I.; García, MDLL.; Blasco Mateu, A.; Massanyi, P.; Capcarová, M.; Argente, M. (2020). Correlated Response to Selection for Litter Size Residual Variability in Rabbits' Body Condition. Animals. 10(12):1-8. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122447S181012Colditz, I. G., & Hine, B. C. (2016). Resilience in farm animals: biology, management, breeding and implications for animal welfare. Animal Production Science, 56(12), 1961. doi:10.1071/an15297Berghof, T. V. L., Poppe, M., & Mulder, H. A. (2019). Opportunities to Improve Resilience in Animal Breeding Programs. Frontiers in Genetics, 9. doi:10.3389/fgene.2018.00692Schröder, U. J., & Staufenbiel, R. (2006). Invited Review: Methods to Determine Body Fat Reserves in the Dairy Cow with Special Regard to Ultrasonographic Measurement of Backfat Thickness. Journal of Dairy Science, 89(1), 1-14. doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(06)72064-1Maes, D. G. D., Janssens, G. P. J., Delputte, P., Lammertyn, A., & de Kruif, A. (2004). Back fat measurements in sows from three commercial pig herds: relationship with reproductive efficiency and correlation with visual body condition scores. Livestock Production Science, 91(1-2), 57-67. doi:10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.06.015Pascual, J. J., Castella, F., Cervera, C., Blas, E., & Fernández-Carmona, J. (2000). The use of ultrasound measurement of perirenal fat thickness to estimate changes in body condition of young female rabbits. Animal Science, 70(3), 435-442. doi:10.1017/s135772980005178xBarletta, R. V., Maturana Filho, M., Carvalho, P. D., Del Valle, T. A., Netto, A. S., Rennó, F. P., … Wiltbank, M. C. (2017). Association of changes among body condition score during the transition period with NEFA and BHBA concentrations, milk production, fertility, and health of Holstein cows. Theriogenology, 104, 30-36. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.07.030Van Staaveren, N., Doyle, B., Manzanilla, E. G., Calderón Díaz, J. A., Hanlon, A., & Boyle, L. A. (2017). Validation of carcass lesions as indicators for on-farm health and welfare of pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 95(4), 1528. doi:10.2527/jas2016.1180Sánchez, J. P., de la Fuente, L. F., & Rosell, J. M. (2012). Health and body condition of lactating females on rabbit farms1. Journal of Animal Science, 90(7), 2353-2361. doi:10.2527/jas.2011-4065Mulder, H. A., & Rashidi, H. (2017). Selection on resilience improves disease resistance and tolerance to infections. Journal of Animal Science, 95(8), 3346. doi:10.2527/jas2017.1479Argente, M. J., García, M. L., Zbyňovská, K., Petruška, P., Capcarová, M., & Blasco, A. (2019). Correlated response to selection for litter size environmental variability in rabbits’ resilience. Animal, 13(10), 2348-2355. doi:10.1017/s1751731119000302Blasco, A., Martínez-Álvaro, M., García, M.-L., Ibáñez-Escriche, N., & Argente, M.-J. (2017). Selection for environmental variance of litter size in rabbits. Genetics Selection Evolution, 49(1). doi:10.1186/s12711-017-0323-4Beloumi, D., Blasco, A., Muelas, R., Santacreu, M. A., García, M. de la L., & Argente, M.-J. (2020). Inflammatory Correlated Response in Two Lines of Rabbit Selected Divergently for Litter Size Environmental Variability. Animals, 10(9), 1540. doi:10.3390/ani10091540García, M. L., Blasco, A., García, M. E., & Argente, M. J. (2019). Correlated response in body condition and energy mobilisation in rabbits selected for litter size variability. Animal, 13(4), 784-789. doi:10.1017/s1751731118002203Pascual J.J., Blanco J., Piquer O., & Quevedo F. Cervera C. (2010). Ultrasound measurements of perirenal fat thickness to estimate the body condition of reproducing rabbit does in different physiological states. World Rabbit Science, 12(1). doi:10.4995/wrs.2004.584Iung, L. H. de S., Carvalheiro, R., Neves, H. H. de R., & Mulder, H. A. (2019). Genetics and genomics of uniformity and resilience in livestock and aquaculture species: A review. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 137(3), 263-280. doi:10.1111/jbg.12454Agea, I., García, M.-L., Blasco, A., & Argente, M.-J. (2019). Litter Survival Differences between Divergently Selected Lines for Environmental Sensitivity in Rabbits. Animals, 9(9), 603. doi:10.3390/ani9090603Fortun-Lamothe, L. (2006). Energy balance and reproductive performance in rabbit does. Animal Reproduction Science, 93(1-2), 1-15. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2005.06.009Feugier, A., & Fortun-Lamothe, L. (2006). Extensive reproductive rhythm and early weaning improve body condition and fertility of rabbit does. Animal Research, 55(5), 459-470. doi:10.1051/animres:2006025Theilgaard, P., Baselga, M., Blas, E., Friggens, N. C., Cervera, C., & Pascual, J. J. (2009). Differences in productive robustness in rabbits selected for reproductive longevity or litter size. Animal, 3(5), 637-646. doi:10.1017/s1751731109003838Theilgaard, P., Sánchez, J. P., Pascual, J. J., Friggens, N. C., & Baselga, M. (2006). Effect of body fatness and selection for prolificacy on survival of rabbit does assessed using a cryopreserved control population. Livestock Science, 103(1-2), 65-73. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2006.01.007Arias-Álvarez, M., García-García, R. M., Rebollar, P. G., Revuelta, L., Millán, P., & Lorenzo, P. L. (2009). Influence of metabolic status on oocyte quality and follicular characteristics at different postpartum periods in primiparous rabbit does. Theriogenology, 72(5), 612-623. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.04.017Castellini, C. (2007). Reproductive activity and welfare of rabbit does. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 6(sup1), 743-747. doi:10.4081/ijas.2007.1s.743Castellini, C., Dal Bosco, A., Arias-Álvarez, M., Lorenzo, P. L., Cardinali, R., & Rebollar, P. G. (2010). The main factors affecting the reproductive performance of rabbit does: A review. Animal Reproduction Science, 122(3-4), 174-182. doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.10.003Xiccato, G., Bernardini, M., Castellini, C., Dalle Zotte, A., Queaque, P. I., & Trocino, A. (1999). Effect of postweaning feeding on the performance and energy balance of female rabbits at different physiological states. Journal of Animal Science, 77(2), 416. doi:10.2527/1999.772416xCardinali, R., Dal Bosco, A., Bonanno, A., Di Grigoli, A., Rebollar, P. G., Lorenzo, P. L., & Castellini, C. (2008). Connection between body condition score, chemical characteristics of body and reproductive traits of rabbit does. Livestock Science, 116(1-3), 209-215. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2007.10.004Castellini, C., Dal Bosco, A., & Cardinali, R. (2006). Long term effect of post-weaning rhythm on the body fat and performance of rabbit doe. Reproduction Nutrition Development, 46(2), 195-204. doi:10.1051/rnd:200600

Annexes to the Update of the risk assessment of nickel in food and drinking water

Annex A – Benchmark dose analysis The Annex is provided as a separate pdf file containing the detailed results of the benchmark dose analyses from which no reference point was selected. Annex B – Dietary surveys per country and age group available in the EFSA Comprehensive Database, considered in the exposure assessment The Annex is provided as a separate Excel file containing the dietary surveys per country and age group. Annex C – Occurrence data on nickel in food and drinking water The Annex is provided as a separate Excel file containing summary statistics on occurrence data on nickel. Annex D – Chronic and acute dietary exposure to nickel and the contribution of different food groups to the dietary exposure The Annex is provided as a separate Excel file containing the chronic and acute dietary exposure to nickel per survey and the contribution of different food groups to the dietary exposure.Peer reviewe

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