Vol. 43, No. 1, 1999
THE INFLUENCE OF THE PARENTERAL ADMINISTRATION OF ZINC ON THE METABOLISM AND SEMINAL FLUID OF THE RAM
Mesároš, P., Cigánková, V., Bíreš, J., Lukačínová, M.
University of Veterinary Medicine
Komenskeho 73
041 81 Kosice
The Slovak Republic
Summary
The administration of a zinc-based preparation (Zindep inj.) to 8 merino rams at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1 resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of Zn in the blood serum of the experimental animals as early as on day 13. The maximum zinc concentration reached in the experimental rams on day 30 after administration was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in comparison with the control group. The difference between the serum levels of Zn in experimental and control animals remained significant (P < 0.01) until day 60 of the experiment.
The concentration of Zn in the seminal fluid showed a moderate increase starting from day 13 after the administration of the preparation. The highest content of Zn in the seminal fluid of the experimental rams was recorded on days 40 adn 60 of the experiment and differed significantly from the control (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, resp.).
The results obtained after the intramuscular administration of the Zn-containing preparation confirm its high biological effectiveness reflected in the concentrations of Zn in the blood serum and seminal fluid of the treated animals. It should be stated that the increased concentration of Zn in the seminal fluid, detected after the administration of the preparation, had no marked effect on the volume of the seminal fluid, activity and concentration of sperms, and the occurrence of morphological changes, but positively affected the viability of sperms.
Key words: ram; zinc; seminal fluid
References
Folia Veterinaria / 1999