Effect of supplementation with the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 on semen quality and antioxidant status in dogs with poor semen quality: Three case studies

Effects of oral black Maca (Lepidium meyenii) supplementation on semen quality and refrigerated storage stability in subfertile and normofertile dogs: a study on sperm parameters and testosterone levels

The aim of this study was to assess the beneficial effects of oral supplementation of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on improving and keeping sperm quality in dogs during storage, and to investigate its effect on changes in testosterone concentrations. Forty male dogs were enrolled in the study and divided into four groups of ten dogs each: two subfertile (control and treatment) and two normofertile (control and treatment) groups. The dogs in the treatment groups received Maca in a capsule formulation (75 mg/kg), while the control groups received placebo. The spermiogram and testosterone levels were assessed at three times of the sperm cycle: 0 (T0), 31 (T31), and 62 (T62) days. Ejaculates were processed for storage at 5 °C and evaluated for total and progressive motility and membrane integrity at 3 (T3h), 24 (T24h), 48 (T48h), and 72 h (T72h) post storage. The oral supplementation of 75 mg/kg of Maca extract in dogs can improve sperm parameters and increase serum testosterone concentrations, leading to improved reproductive capacity. The semen of subjects treated with oral Maca supplementation maintained its parameters stable for a longer period when stored compared to the semen of control subjects, demonstrating the beneficial effect of the use of this extract on male fertility.

Coenzyme Q10 improves the quality of sheep sperm stored at room temperature by mitigating oxidative stress

The purpose of this experiment was to explore whether coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀ ) improves the quality of sheep semen stored at room temperature by attenuating oxidative stress. Semen was diluted without (control group), and with antioxidants (5, 50, 250, and 500 μmol/L CoQ₁₀ ). Sperm kinetic parameters and plasma membrane integrity were determined, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were evaluated on the fifth day of semen preservation. The results showed that compared with the control group, the progressive motility in the 50 μmol/L group was higher (p < 0.05) within 2-5 days, and the plasma membrane integrity of sperm was higher in the 50 μmol/L group. The ROS content in the 5 and 50 μmol/L groups was reduced. The MDA level was reduced in the CoQ₁₀ supplementation groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, the CAT, SOD, TAOC, ATP and MMP levels in the 50 μmol/L group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, CoQ₁₀ improved the quality of ram semen by alleviating oxidative stress, and 50 μmol/L CoQ₁₀ was the optimum concentration.