Abstract:

【Objective】 The experiment was conducted to study the effect of nano-selenium on reproductive function in male Boer goat from weaned to sexual maturity. 【Method】 Total 20 healthy goats were randomly divided into two treatments in 10 replications, and they were fed with a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control) or 0.3 mg?kg-1 Se from nano-selenium. The experiment lasted for 90 d before 10 weeks pretesting, and the blood samples were collected and separated serum for sexual hormones every 30 days. The testis obtained, measured the Se concentration and the activity of GSH-Px, fixed and made the microscopic section, observed the testicular microstructure. At the end of experiment, semen quality in each group was analyzed, ultrastructure of spermatozoa was observed through TEM. 【Result】 The results showed that the development of seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissue and germ cells were affected by supplementing nano-Se in basal diets. Dietary supplementation with nano-Se increased testis Se content, the activity of GSH-Px (P＜0.01) significantly. Testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follitropin were not affected by supplementation Se during the phase of 30-60 d, and increased significantly in the phase of 90 d compared with control. Sperm activity increased by 10% and abnormality sperm decreased by 27%, respectively (P＜0.05), and no change in sperm quantity and density was observed. The longitudinal sections of midpiece of sperm mitochondria showed the change of the biological characters and arranged loosely. 【Conclusion】 These results indicated that supplementation of nano-Se affected the reproductive function of prepubertital goat, and improved the sperm quantity.

Key words: nanometer-selenium (Nano-Se), weaned male goat, reproductive hormone, seminiferous tubules, germ cell, ultrastructure