Reproductive and physiological traits of ossimi rams as affected by vitamin E and selenium injection

الملخص EN

The objective of this study was to determine the changes in the reproductive and physiological traits of Egyptian Ossimi rams during and after injection of a combination of vitamin E and selenium (Se).

Fourteen mature healthy Ossimi rams were randomly divided into two equal groups (7 rams per group).

The first group served as control group (CG), while the 2nd group served as a treatment group (TG).

Rams of the TG were treated twice weekly with 5 mg sodium selenite and 450 mg vitamin E for one month.

Testicular measurements for each ram were recorded every one week for one month during the treatment and one month after the treatment.

Accessory glands and testes were examined by sonar (ultrasound technique) and semen was collected using an artificial vagina.

Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at 8.0 a.m.

for measuring some biochemical parameters and measuring testosterone hormone.

The results of the current study revealed that, during the treatment period there were no significant differences (P>0.05) between the treated and control groups in the ejaculation volume and mass motility.

However, there were significant improvements in the total sperm concentration (3 fold higher), the percentage of live spermatozoa (15.7% higher), total sperm abnormalities (13.7% lower) and reaction time (1.8 fold) in treated rams in comparison with the controls.

After the treatment period, all semen characteristics were significantly improved.

Selenium and vitamin E had no significant impact on the testes dimensions during the treatment period and had little effect on testes dimensions and ultrasonography of the testes.

There were numerical increases in all testes dimensions after treatment beside the significant increase in seminal gland.

During the treatment period, rams injected with vitamin E plus Se had higher (P<0.001) values for blood cholesterol (8.5 % higher) and calcium and lower values for serum alanine aminotransferase in comparison with the control group.

However after the treatment period, rams of the TG group had higher serum total protein, albumen, globulin, glucose (2 fold higher), serum testosterone, cholesterol, calcium and lower values for serum alanine aminotransferase and Aspartate aminotransferase compared to control rams.

In conclusion, administration with the combination of Se and vitamin E induced profound positive changes in the reproductive and physiological traits of Ossimi rams and these changes appear after the fourth week of injection.