Effect of nigella sativa (aquas extract) on the viability of rabbit spermatozoa, fertility traits and bacterial contamination [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Thirty-six sexually mature bucks of Californian rabbits (12 months age) were used in three experiments. In experiment 1, semen was collected artificially, pooled and extended with lactose-yolk citrate extender. Nigella sativa extract was added to the extended semen at levels 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 μl / ml, then the extended semen was stored at refrigeration temperature (4-6 °C) for up to three days or incubated at 37 DC for up to four hours. Percentages of sperm motility, dead spermatozoa and acrosme damages were recorded at the different stages of the preservation. Experiment 2 was planned to evaluate the effect of Nigella sativa extract on some bacteria present in extended rabbit semen .In experiment 3, the does were inseminated artificially by using either the extended semen free or supplemented with 200 III Nigella sativa extract (the lowest dose which showed the best effects on semen quality) to estimate the fertility traits. The results obtained showed that, supplementing Nigella sativa extract to the extended rabbit semen improved significantly (P≤0.05) the sperm motility and viability while the percentages of dead spermatozoa and acrosome damages were decreased (P≤ 0.05) during chilled storage at (4-6 °C) for up to three days or incubation at 37 °C for up to four hours. Semen quality and storagability were an-anged discendingly as obtained by supplemented extended semen with 250, 200, 150, 100, 50 III Nigella sativa extract Iml than control. Semen quality decreased significantly (P≤0.05) with progression of time at different preservation temperatures. Nigella sativa extract at level 200 μl combined with antibiotics (500 IU sodium penicillin + 500 µg streptomycin sulphatel 1 ml extended semen showed better inhibitor effect on the microbial count compared with Nigella sativa or antibiotics treatment alone. Kindling rate and litter size and weight at birth values were significantly (P≤ 0.05) better in rabbit does inseminated artificially by using extended semen and supplemented with 200 μl/ ml Nigella sativa extract than those inseminated by using extended semen free from Nigella sativa (control group).

Summary in Arabic.