Boar sperm quality after supplementation of diets with omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids extracted from microalgae |
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| Authors: | Y T Andriola F Moreira E Anastácio F A Camelo Jr A C Silva A S Varela Jr S M M Gheller K L Goularte C D Corcini T Lucia Jr |
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| Affiliation: | 1. ReproPel, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas‐RS, Brazil;2. Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas‐RS, Brazil;3. Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas‐RS, Brazil;4. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande, Rio Grande‐RS, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | This study evaluated effects of diet supplementation with omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from microalgae on boar sperm quality. Two groups of boars (n = 3 each) were fed during 75 days either a commercial diet (control), or the same diet supplemented with omega‐3 PUFA from the heterotrophic microalgae Schizochytrium sp. (120 g/kg). Sixteen ejaculates were collected per boar. Some sperm kinetics parameters were inferior for supplemented than for control boars (p < .05): distance average path; distance in both curved and straight line; velocity average path, velocity in both curved and straight line; and amplitude of lateral head displacement. Spermatozoa from supplemented boars presented lower mitochondrial functionality, but greater membrane fluidity compared to the control group (p < .01). Membrane and acrosome integrity, production of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation did not differ (p > .05). Serum cholesterol levels were greater (p < .05) for supplemented than for control boars at the 30th and 60th d of supplementation, but levels of triglycerides and IGF‐1 did not differ (p > .05). Compared to the control, spermatozoa of supplemented boars were slower, travelled shorter distances and presented impaired energy metabolism, but their greater membrane fluidity may potentially favour their cryopreservation. |
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| Keywords: | boar sperm cholesterol docosahexaenoic acid membrane fluidity microalgae |
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