Rasyona ilave edilen quercetin'in sıcak stresi altındaki tavşanlarda gamet kalitesi üzerine etkisi

Two experiments have been conducted to determine the effect of quercetin on semen quality, follicular development, oocyte quality and maturation rate, testicular and ovarian cells apoptosis in heat induced male rabbits. The heat stress (HS) male and female rabbits were either fed basal diet (HS) or basal diet supplemented with quercetin (Que-HS; 30mg/kg/day). In male group, weekly collected semen samples were evaluated for volume, osmolarity, sperm concentration, motility, viability, acrosome reaction, mitochondrial potential and morphology. At the end of trial, testes were collected to observe the apoptosis in germ cells. In female group, oocytes were collected through laparotomy, grading was performed and submitted to in vitro maturation. At the end of the experiment, ovaries were retrieved to estimate the follicle population and apoptosis rate in developing follicles. The results of experiment 1 showed that the higher (p<0.05) semen volume, sperm concentration and sperm motility was observed at day 48 and 56 of trial in Que-HS group. The sperm kinetic parameters (VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, WOB, ALH and BCF), sperm viability, acrosome integrity and sperm functional mitochondrial potential differed significantly (p<0.05) at day 48 and 56 in Que-HS group. A significantly (p<0.05) low number of head, mid-piece, tail and total sperm abnormalities were observed following day 30, 48 and 56 in Que-HS group. Similarly, a significantly low (p<0.05) number of apoptotic germ cells were observed in seminiferous tubules in Que-HS group. The results of experiment 2 described that follicle and retrieved oocyte number was significantly higher in quercetin group. The proportion of A-grade oocyte greater (p<0.05) in Que-HS group, whereas, the maturation rate was similar (p>0.05) across the groups. The quercetin significantly improved (p<0.05) the number of primordial and antral follicles heat stress (HS) in rabbits. Low proportion (p<0.05) of apoptotic cells were observed in primary and antral follicles in Que-HS group. It is concluded that quercetin supplementation could be helpful to improve the follicular development, oocyte competence and follicle apoptosis in HS female rabbits; moreover, it improves the sperm quality and protects the testes induced damages.