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Effects of vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, or their nanoparticles on camel epididymal spermatozoa stored at 4 °C

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Abstract

This study determined the effects of antioxidant supplementation and storage time at cool temperatures on the characteristics of epididymal camel spermatozoa. Camel testes were collected at the abattoir after animal slaughtering and kept at 4 °C during transportation and until processing (max 6 h). Spermatozoa were retrieved and diluted with SHOTOR extender, split in aliquots, supplemented with the following antioxidants: 200 μm/mL vitamin E, 1.0 g/L vitamin C, 1 μg/mL selenium nanoparticles, 50 μg/mL zinc nanoparticles, 2 μg/mL sodium selenite, and 100 μg/mL zinc sulfate, and stored at 4 °C for 2, 48, 96, and 144 h. The storage time significantly affected (P < 0.05) the sperms’ motility and livability, the sperms’ membrane integrity, and the percentages of cytoplasmic droplets as well as the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa. Epididymal sperm characteristics (progressive motility, livability, membrane integrity, and abnormalities) were significantly improved (P < 0.05) when the spermatozoa were diluted with antioxidants as compared with the control group, and the best additives were identified as nano-selenium, sodium selenite, nano-zinc, and zinc sulfate. In conclusion, adding nano-sized minerals or inorganic trace elements and vitamins maintained the progressive motility, livability, and membrane integrity, and decreased abnormalities and cytoplasmic droplet percentages of epididymal camel spermatozoa stored at 4 °C up to 144 h.

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Funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this work through research group no. (RG-1438-018).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

    Mohamed A. Shahin, Wael A. Khalil & Mostafa A. El-Harairy

  2. Electron Microscope Unit, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

    Mohamed A. Shahin

  3. Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Islam M. Saadeldin & Ayman A. Swelum

  4. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt

    Islam M. Saadeldin

  5. Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia

    Islam M. Saadeldin

  6. Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt

    Ayman A. Swelum

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  1. Mohamed A. Shahin
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  2. Wael A. Khalil
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Shahin, M.A., Khalil, W.A., Saadeldin, I.M. et al. Effects of vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, or their nanoparticles on camel epididymal spermatozoa stored at 4 °C. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 86 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02521-1

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