<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study aimed to assess the influence of different concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) found in the feed and water provided to bulls on the concentrations of these metals in cryopreserved bull semen, and to determine their influence onto semen quality parameters. Correlations between heavy metal concentrations in the semen and the quality parameters of semen as estimated by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry (FC) methods were determined.</p>
<p>A total of 40 cryopreserved semen samples originating from bulls housed in 4 different centers for artificial insemination (A, B, C and D) were examined, making a total of 160 samples. The concentrations of metals and semen quality parameters were determined in cryopreserved semen of 10 bulls from each center, namely 4 samples from each bull. Concentrations of Zn, Pb, Hg and Cd in hay and concentrated feed were within the allowed limits as proposed by the National Research Council (NRC, 2000). A strong negative correlation was detected between curvilinear velocity (VCL) and Zn concentrations in the semen (P &lt; 0.01; r = -0.772) in group D, and a positive correlation of VCL with Pb concentrations (P &lt; 0.05 and r = 0.718) in group B. Mercury concentrations in cryopreserved semen correlated negatively to the percent of live sperm cells with intact acrosomes (V/IA: P &lt; 0.05; r = -0.640) and positively with the percent of dead sperm cells with damaged acrosomes (D/DA: P &lt; 0.01; r = 0.766) in group D. This finding confirms the hypothesis that Hg, even at low concentrations, may cause acrosome damage.</p>
</abstract>

This study aimed to assess the influence of different concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) found in the feed and water provided to bulls on the concentrations of these metals in cryopreserved bull semen, and to determine their influence onto semen quality parameters. Correlations between heavy metal concentrations in the semen and the quality parameters of semen as estimated by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry (FC) methods were determined.
A total of 40 cryopreserved semen samples originating from bulls housed in 4 different centers for artificial insemination (A, B, C and D) were examined, making a total of 160 samples. The concentrations of metals and semen quality parameters were determined in cryopreserved semen of 10 bulls from each center, namely 4 samples from each bull. Concentrations of Zn, Pb, Hg and Cd in hay and concentrated feed were within the allowed limits as proposed by the National Research Council (NRC, 2000). A strong negative correlation was detected between curvilinear velocity (VCL) and Zn concentrations in the semen (P < 0.01; r = -0.772) in group D, and a positive correlation of VCL with Pb concentrations (P < 0.05 and r = 0.718) in group B. Mercury concentrations in cryopreserved semen correlated negatively to the percent of live sperm cells with intact acrosomes (V/IA: P < 0.05; r = -0.640) and positively with the percent of dead sperm cells with damaged acrosomes (D/DA: P < 0.01; r = 0.766) in group D. This finding confirms the hypothesis that Hg, even at low concentrations, may cause acrosome damage.

The Influence of Zinc and Heavy Metals in Feed and Water on the Quality of Cryopreserved Bull Semen

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Physiology and Biochemistry

Department of Reproduction, Fertility and Artificial Insemination

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Nutrition and Botany

Acta Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This study aimed to assess the influence of different concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) found in the feed and water...

The Influence of Zinc and Heavy Metals in Feed and Water on the Quality of Cryopreserved Bull Semen

Publié en ligne: 27 sept. 2021

Pages: 326 - 343

Accepté: 10 août 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2021-0028

Mots clés
cadmium, CASA, cryopreserved bull semen, lead, mercury, zinc

© 2021 Goran Jakovljević et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The Influence of Zinc and Heavy Metals in Feed and Water on the Quality of Cryopreserved Bull Semen

Publié en ligne: 27 sept. 2021

Pages: 326 - 343

Accepté: 10 août 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2021-0028

Mots cléscadmium, CASA, cryopreserved bull semen, lead, mercury, zinc

© 2021 Goran Jakovljević et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
cadmium, CASA, cryopreserved bull semen, lead, mercury, zinc