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. 2022 Dec;46(4):1245-1257.
doi: 10.1007/s11259-022-09991-8. Epub 2022 Sep 1.

Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation enhances testicular volume and hemodynamics, reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and seminal antioxidant capacity in goat bucks under summer hot humid conditions

Hossam R El-Sherbiny  1 , Elshymaa A Abdelnaby  2 , K H El-Shahat  2 , Noha Y Salem  3 , Eman S Ramadan  3 , Shimaa G Yehia  3 , Mohamed Fathi  2
Affiliations

Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation enhances testicular volume and hemodynamics, reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and seminal antioxidant capacity in goat bucks under summer hot humid conditions

Hossam R El-Sherbiny et al. Vet Res Commun. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Oxidative stress (OS) is brought on by heat stress (HS), which weakens antioxidant defense and initiates OS. Since mitochondria are the primary source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), HS-mediated OS may be lessened by targeting mitochondria with particular antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on the reproductive performance of goat bucks under HS conditions. Ten mature bucks were randomly separated into two groups and housed in an environment with a high-temperature humidity index (THI: 88.3 to 94.8; summer season). The first group (n = 5) got the baseline diet while the second group (n = 5) received supplemental oral CoQ10 (3 mg/kg BW; CoQ10 group) daily for six weeks. Testicular blood flow parameters (TBF), testicular volume (TV) and echogenicity (TE), nitric oxide (NO), seminal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and catalase (CAT) activities, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and semen quality traits were all measured. The examinations started a week before (W-1), on the first supplementation day (W0), and weekly for eight consecutive weeks (W1-W8). There were marked (P < 0.05) increases in TBF (W3-W6) and TV, and a decrease in TE (W3-W5) in the CoQ10 group compared to the CON group. Similarly, testosterone (T) and NO levels (W3-W5) in the CoQ10 group were higher (P < 0.05) than those of the control group. The CoQ10 group demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) increases in seminal CAT (W4-W8) and TAC (W2-W6) activities and decreases in ALT (W4-W7) activity and MDA (W5-W8) concentration as compared to the control group. The CoQ10 group showed improvements (P < 0.05) at W3-W6 for sperm progressive motility, viability, and normal morphology and at W6-W8 for sperm concentration. In conclusion, oral CoQ10 supplementation improved testicular hemodynamics, testosterone production, semen quality, and antioxidant capacity in goat bucks during summer heat stress conditions.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Coenzyme Q10; Goats; Heat stress; Reproductive hormones; Semen; Testicular blood flow.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors do have not any conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Temporal changes of the temperature humidity index (THI: 12:00 and 16:00) throughout the study timeline (W0-W8) in Giza city, Giza governorate, Egypt. The Calculated THI was based on the equation proposed by (Kendall and Webster 2009): THI = (1.8 × T + 32) − [(0.55 − 0.0055 × RH) × (1.8 × T − 26)]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Color mode ultrasonograms of the pampiniform plexus showed colored areas. Note: Larger areas were colored blue to represent blood flow toward testes away from the probe, then a pulsed wave Doppler was activated to form the spectral graph. PSV = peak point of velocity, EDV = endpoint of velocity, TAV = time average velocity, RI = resistive index, and PI = pulsatility index
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Alterations in testicular volume (cm3; A), and testicular echotexture (B) in form of pixel heterogeneity (PH, SdNPVs) and testicular echogenicity (TE, NPVs). a value is significantly different at P < 0.05 compared with the control and coenzyme Q10 males, while the * value is significantly different at P < 0.05 between the two groups at the same time point
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Alterations in plasma levels of testosterone (T; ng/mL; A), estradiol (E2; pg/mL; B), serum nitric oxide levels (NOMs, µmol/L; C), follicle-stimulating (FSH; ng/mL; D), and luteinizing hormones (LH; ng/mL; E) in male bucks that received coenzyme Q10 compared to control group. Values are presented as means ± SEM. a value is significantly different at P < 0.05 compared with the control and coenzyme Q10 males, while the * value is significantly different at P < 0.05 between the two groups at the same time point
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