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Effect of l-carnitine on sperm quality during liquid storage of chicken semen

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Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the in vitro effects of l-carnitine on sperm quality. The semen was collected from 18 Ross-308 broiler breeder cocks and mixed together. The mixed semen was diluted with modified Ringer’s solution and supplemented with five treatment levels (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% (w/v)) of l-carnitine. Treatments were evaluated for sperm quality (motility, viability, and morphological defect rates) at 0, 3, 6, 10, and 24 h after incubation at 4°C. At evaluation of spermatozoa immediately after semen collection, there were not significant differences among values of treatment groups. After incubating the semen for different hours, sperm motility and viability of the groups supplemented with l-carnitine were higher than that of the control group. Furthermore, morphological defect rates of spermatozoa in the groups supplemented with l-carnitine were lower than that in control group. The best level of l-carnitine that advised for supplementation to the extended semen of Ross-308 chicken in order to improve the sperm motility and viability as well as reduce the morphological defect rates of spermatozoa up to 24 h during storage at 4°C was 2% (w/v).

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  1. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal and Food Science, Ramin (Khoozestan) Agricultural and Natural Resources University, P.O. Box 63417-73637, Mollasani, Ahvaz, Iran

    Saleh Tabatabaei & Ali Aghaei

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  1. Saleh Tabatabaei
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  2. Ali Aghaei
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Correspondence to Saleh Tabatabaei.

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Tabatabaei, S., Aghaei, A. Effect of l-carnitine on sperm quality during liquid storage of chicken semen. Comp Clin Pathol 21, 711–717 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-010-1163-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-010-1163-6

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