Biochemical and reproductive studies on the effect of gibberellic acid on rams

Abstract EN

This study was designed to clarify the effect of the plant growth hormone, gibberellic acid (GA3) on the hematological, biochemical and reproductive profile of rams.

Thirty rams were classified into 3 equal groups; a control and two other treated groups; the first one (indirectly exposed group, IEG) was forced to feed on a previously sprayed green fodder (alfalfa) with the recommended dose of GA3, while the second group (directly exposed group, DEG) was forced to drink ad libitum on 75 ppm GA3 in water for 30 successive days followed by another 30 days withdrawal period.

Direct exposure to GA3 for one month induced a significant increase in AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine with a significant decrease in testicular size, T4, albumen and testosterone hormone in addition to semen volume, sperm cell concentration, live and motile sperms with normal growth rate, blood picture, TSH, serum total protein and blood glucose level.

After one month withdrawal period, creatinine only was returned to its normal value with a significant increase in total sperm abnormalities.

However, the indirect exposure to GA3 for one month induced the same deviations with a less severity and non-significant changes in creatinine, moreover, one month withdrawal period ameliorated all deviated parameters except the testicular size, testosterone hormone, T4, and BUN in addition to reduction the quality of semen.

From this study, we can conclude that GA3 has adverse side effects on the biochemical and reproductive profile of rams.

These effects were severe in rams directly exposed to the gibberellic acid (DEG) compared to those fed on sprayed green fodder with gibberellic acid (IEG)