Influence of the concentrations of essential and toxic elements in the blood serum on the indicators of sperm quality in Arabian purebred stallions

Abstract

Analysis of trace elements in blood serum can be an important tool for monitoring micronutrient supply in stallions in order to maintain reproductive health. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the concentrations of macro- and microelements in the blood serum of stud stallions with the qualitative characteristics of fresh sperm and sperm after cryopreservation and thawing. The studies were carried out on purebred Arabian stallions (n=50). As a biomaterial for studies, we used blood serum, fresh and thawed sperm after cryopreservation. The elemental composition of seminal plasma was determined by 25 chemical elements Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Se, Zn Ca, K, Mg, P, B, Li, Si, V Na, Ni, Sn, Hg, Sr, Al, As, Cd, Pb) by ICP-DRC-MS methods. It was found that the concentrations of Mg and Co in the blood serum positively correlate with the qualitative characteristics of the sperm of Arabian purebred stallions. Wherein, the optimal range of concentrations of Mg in the blood serum, typical for stallions with relatively high indicators of sperm quality, is 22.64 to 27.05 μg/g; Co – 0.001 to 0.0015 μg/g.