Biol Reprod Lalor Postdoctoral Fellowships -- Application Deadline January 15, 2009
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by BARTLE, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by HILLERS, J. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by BARTLE, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by HILLERS, J. K.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by BARTLE, J. L.
Right arrow Articles by HILLERS, J. K.

Biology of Reproduction, Vol 23, 1007-1013, Copyright © 1980 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

Influence of Injected Selenium in Dairy Bulls on Blood and Semen Selenium, Glutathione Peroxidase and Seminal Quality

J. L. BARTLE 1, P. L. SENGER 1, , and J. K. HILLERS 1

1 Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University. Pullman, Washington 99164


A 9 month study was conducted to determine the influence of selenium (Se) injections on blood and semen Se and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in bulls that were moderately Se-deficient. The effects of Se injections on semen production and quality were also examined. Five Holstein bulls were assigned to either a Se or no Se treatment based on their pretreatment seminal production and quality characteristics. Three bulls were given i.m. injections of 5, 10, 20, or 40 mg Se as sodium selenite per 90 kg BW at 6, 16, 22, and 28 weeks, respectively, after initiation of the experiment. Two bulls received sham injections at the same times and served as controls. Blood samples were collected weekly from each bull and assayed for GSH-Px and selenium. Semen was collected 3 times weekly from each bull and assayed for GSH-Px activity in the seminal plasma. Thirteen weeks after initiation of the experiment, semen from each bull was analyzed for Se on a weekly basis. Ejaculates from each bull were evaluated for volume, concentration of spermatozoa, percentage of motile spermatozoa, percentage of intact acrosomes and spermatozoal morphology immediately postcollection. Post-thaw semen quality was determined from two ejaculates from each bull per week. Frozen semen was thawed, incubated for 4 h at 37°C, and spermatozoa were evaluated for post-thaw percentage of motile spermatozoa and percentage of intact acrosomes.

Selenium injections increased blood Se (P<0.05), blood GSH-Px (P<0.005), semen Se(P<0.06), and seminal plasma GSH-Px (P<0.05). Blood Se and GSH-Px did not increase until after the 10 mg injection. Seminal plasma GSH-Px appeared highly sensitive to changes in Se status since enzyme levels tripled within 48 h following the 5 mg injection. Subsequent increases in seminal plasma GSH-Px were observed with each Se injection.

Neither postcollection nor post-thaw semen quality was influenced by Se injections.

Note:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge W. C. Becker, M. B. Ngah. J. McCutchan, and D. V. Brown for their assistance in collection and analysis of samples; Mr. Joe Blake for managing the bulls; Dr. P. D. Whanger for conducting the Se analysis; and the National Association of Animal Breeders for a grant to support this research.

Submitted on July 8, 1980
Accepted on September 26, 1980






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1980 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction.