The Effects of Diets Including Different Amount of Tribulus terrestris Supplementation on Spermatological Parameters and Fertilization Ability of Male Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine how varying doses of Tribulus terrestris supplementation affected the fertilization ability and spermatological characteristics of male rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Male fish (mean weight of 497±5.29 g and a mean length of 33.5±3.4 cm) were fed with four experimental diets containing different amounts of T. terrestris (0, 100, 250, 500 mg/kg feed) for 90 days in duplicates. The motility time analysis of all groups indicates that the motility times of male rainbow trout fed with T. terrestris increased. Besides, the fertilization rate of the control group is lower than the groups that fed with T. terrestris supplementation. In comparison with the control group without any additives, especially the fertilization rate of the trout fed with 250 mg/kg was 95% (p<0.05). Furthermore, this study also examined how T. terrestris supplementation affects the blood plasma of male rainbow trout and it was found that the male rainbow trout fed with T. terrestris supplementation had the highest LH hormone value at 250 mg/kg.

Keywords

• Tribulus terrestris
• Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
• Seminal plasma
• Sperm quality
• Sperm motility