High-energy diet enhances spermatogenic function and increases sperm midpiece length in fallow deer (Dama dama) yearlings.

ABSTRACT: Nutrition is a major factor involved in the sexual development of livestock ruminants. In the male, a high-energy diet enhances the reproductive function, but its effects on the underlying processes such as spermatogenic efficiency are not yet defined. Moreover, the possible changes in sperm size due to a supplemented diet remain poorly investigated. The main goal of this study was to evaluate whether a high-energy diet affects the spermatogenic activity, epididymal sperm parameters (concentration, morphology, morphometry and acrosome integrity) and blood testosterone levels in fallow deer yearlings. For this purpose, 32 fallow deer were allocated into two groups according to their diet: control (pasture) and experimental (pasture and barley grain) groups. Fallow deer from the experimental

SUBMITTER: Ros-Santaella JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6599764 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature