O-7: Detrimental Effects of Dietary Fish Oil without Vitamin E Supplementation on Cryopreserved Sperm of Iranian Mehraban Rams

Background Although several studies confirmed positive effects of fish oil on semen quality, the antioxidant status in omega-3 supplemented diets of several studies is a fuzzy point. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary fish oil and (or) vitamin E supplementation on cryopreserved sperm in Mehraban rams. MaterialsAndMethods Sixteen fertile rams were randomly allotted to four groups and fed either of four diets during 13 weeks: І. control diet without fish oil and vitamin E supplementation (CON), ΙΙ. diet containing 200 IU/day/ram vitamin E (VE), ΙΙΙ. diet containing 2.5% (dry matter basis) fish oil (FO), and ΙV. diet containing 2.5% fish oil and 200 IU/day/ram vitamin E (OVE). Semen was collected at 14-d intervals during the breeding season. Semen samples were frozen in a Tris-based diluent, cooled to 4°C, frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor, and stored in liquid nitrogen. Finally, straws were thawed in a water bath (37°C) for 30 sec and evaluated by the CASA system. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS Institute (2003) with a repeated measurement analysis. Results Sperm motility, viability, progressive motility, type A (rapid progressive) as well as type B (medium progressive) sperm were higher in frozen-thawed semen of rams fed fish oil and vitamin E (P