Caudal Epididymal Sperm Characteristics and Testicular Morphometrics of Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of a Blood-Wild Sunflower Leaf Meal (BWSLM) Mixture Diet

Abstract

The effects of feeding graded levels of blood-wild sunflower leaf meal (BWSLM) mixture on rabbit caudal epididymal sperm characteristics and testicular morphometrics were investigated. The BWSLM mixture was included in the feed at 0, 5, 10 and 15% levels in diets 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The motile-spermatozoa for diet 3, which was 77%, was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to other diets, while the non-motile spermatozoa for diet 3 which was 6% was the least among the diets. The progressive motility of spermatozoa for diet 4 (56%) was higher (P<0.05) than other diets, while the spermatozoa with deformed tail for diet 4 (6%) was the least. The sperm concentration for diet 3 was 154 x 106/mm³ and significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to other diets. Testicular morphometrics showed that diet 3 had a significantly (P<0.05) higher value of paired testes weight (2.46g), relative weight of testes (0.28), mean testicular length (4.40cm) and mean testicular width (1.10cm) than other diets. The results showed that inclusion of BWSLM mixture supported optimum caudal epididymal sperm characteristics and showed testicular morphometrics (growth) in rabbits at a 10% level of incorporation and is tolerated without adverse effects up to 15% levels.

Submitted: January 14, 2009 · Accepted: July 28, 2009 · Published: September 13, 2009

Recommended Citation

Ajayi, Ayodeji F.; Raji, Yinusa; Togun, Victor; and Oyewopo, A. O. (2009) "Caudal Epididymal Sperm Characteristics and Testicular Morphometrics of Rabbits Fed Graded Levels of a Blood-Wild Sunflower Leaf Meal (BWSLM) Mixture Diet," Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Vol. 6 : Iss. 1, Article 26.
DOI: 10.2202/1553-3840.1232
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/jcim/vol6/iss1/26