Hormonal, Histological, and Comparative Study of the Effect of Pure Ginseng on Testicular Function in the Breeding/Non-Breeding Season of Rams in Basrah.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the administration of powdered Panax ginseng as a dietary supplement on testosterone concentration, spermatogenesis stimulating hormone, interstitial cell-stimulating hormone levels, sperms morphological characteristics, testis histological traits, and testicular size in the breeding and non-breeding season in adult rams. In total, 20 adult rams were included and randomly divided into three groups. The first group of adult rams (n=8) was subdivided into two subgroups of four rams (Sub-G1-B and Sub-G2-B). TheSub-G1-B and Sub-G2-B were fed 2 and 5 g of P. ginseng once a day, respectively, for 90 days during the breeding season. The second group of adult rams (n=8) was subdivided into two subgroups of four rams (Sub-G1-NB and Sub-G2-NB). The Sub-G1-NB and Sub-G2-NB were fed 2 and 5 g of P. ginseng once a day, respectively, for 90 days during the non-breeding season. The third group of adult rams (n=4) was considered the control group two times (in and out of the season). The results showed that the testosterone concentration and gonad protective and interstitial cell-stimulating hormone levels increased significantly (P<0.05) in both the experimental groups that received ginseng supplementation, compared to the control group in and out of the breeding season. The evaluation of sperm morphometric parameters, such as total sperm count, total motility, and progressive motility, showed superiority in improving the above-mentioned parameters. However, the total immotile sperms and non-progressive sperms underwent a significant decrease (P<0.05) in both experimental groups of ginseng supplemented, compared to the control group in and out of season. The angiogenesis of the seminiferous tubules increased significantly (P<0.05) in both experimental groups. Through a microscopic examination, the recorded data showed a significant increase in the population of spermatogonial stem cells as well as primary and secondary spermatocytes in both experimental groups. Values of testicular diameter showed a significant increase (P<0.05) after a period of 75 and 90 days following the initiation of treatments in both experimental groups, compared to the control group in and out of the season. It can be concluded that P. ginseng has some beneficial effects on the antioxidant status of the semen, the morphometric parameters, and other critical traits of sperm and testicles which are the important factors in male fertility.

Relationship between Enzymatic Antioxidant Activities and Reproductive Hormones in the Cows with Retained Placenta in Basrah Province, Iraq.

The current study was conducted to evaluate the activity of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GSH-px], glutathione transferase [GSH-tr], and glutathione [GSH]) in the plasma of cows that suffered from retained placenta (RP), compared to cows without RP. Estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol hormones were also evaluated for the two groups of animals. In total, 38 pregnant cows were investigated in this study, and eight cows were suffering from RP (RP group) and did not release the placenta up to 12 h after giving birth. The other 30 cows did not suffer from RP (non-RP group) and left as a control. The results revealed a significant increase in CAT, GSH-tr, and GSH-px enzyme activities after calving in RP animals, compared to the other group of animals with normal placenta release before and after calving. In addition, SOD and GSH showed a significant increase in their levels before calving that reduced after giving birth, compared to the other antioxidant enzymes levels. The hormonal study also revealed a significant decrease in the estrogen level in the RP group, compared to the non-RP group, while the progesterone and cortisol showed non-significant levels in the studied groups. In conclusion, a strong relationship of RP with the antioxidant enzymatic activity and hormones in RP cow was observed in this study, which can be used to predict the incidence of RP throughout the levels of enzymatic antioxidants before parturition.