Parenteral supplementation of Cu, Zn and Mn enhances boars’ sperm quality

The trace elements concentrations of blood might play a key role in the trace element concentration of seminal plasma, as well as in the improvement of semen volume and sperm morphology in boars. To assess the effect of supplementation of Cu, Zn and Mn on their concentrations in blood serum and seminal plasma and sperm quality in boars. Eighteen boars of the Duroc Jersey breed were selected and their blood and semen (54 ejaculates before supplementation) were extracted. Coinciding with the third sampling and after of blood taken, the boars were supplemented subcutaneously with 37.5 mg of Cu, 75 mg of Zn and 37.5 mg of Mn; 40 days after the supplementation the fourth sampling was taken. Cu and Zn concentrations in blood serum and seminal plasma were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while the sperm pathologies were determined by microscopy and the concentrations of Cu and Zn in blood serum and seminal plasma, and semen pathologies were compared using the t-Student test for paired samples. A simple linear correlation was made between the minerals concentration in seminal plasma with the percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal forms. Although the concentrations of Zn in blood serum did not show differences between sampling periods (P