Animal Research · 2005 · 21 citations · 2 references
MedicineAnimal SciencesNutritional SciencesReproductive BiologyReproductive MedicineSemen EvaluationMale Reproductive FunctionSemen AnalysisSperm Concentration AssessmentSperm FunctionTesticular FunctionTesticular PhysiologyControl Group DesignDiet MaintenanceDry Matter ContentMatched Control GroupSeminiferous Tubule PhysiologySperm Count AssessmentSperm Function AssessmentSperm Function Tests
Eighteen crossbred rabbit bucks aged 8-10 months were placed on one of three diets containing leucaena (LLM), gliricidia (GLM) leaf meals both included at 20% of dry matter, or a control diet (CTL). Semen volume for the CTL group was 0.71 0.02 mL, which was higher (P<0.05) than the values for the LLM (0.57 0.02 mL) and GLM (0.58 0.01 mL) groups. The spermatozoa concentration values obtained were (110.3 3.5) 10 6 per mL, (103.5 4.1) 10 6 per mL and (94.2 3.4) 10 6 per mL for the CTL, LLM and GLM groups respectively. Seminiferous tubular diameters were significantly (P<0.05) wider in the control group (234 21.3 m) than in the other two groups, which were similar (P>0.05). There were indications of mild degenerations in some samples from the leucaena and gliricidia groups. These results indicate that the inclusion of leucaena and gliricidia leaf meals at 20% in rations for mature rabbit bucks could cause mild depressive effects on semen production and quality.
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