Evaluation of semen quality from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) supplemented with different vitamin C concentrations

Abstract

Through this study, the effect of the diet supplementation with 0; 75; 150; 225; 300 mg of vitamin C/kg of ration on semen quality of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was evaluated. Qualitative (spermatic morphology, progressive spermatic motility and spermatic vigor) and quantitative parameters (spermatic concentration, semen volume and total number of spermatozoa) were analyzed. No differences (P > 0.05) on semen volume, spermatic vigor, progressive spermatic motility, spermatic concentration, total number of spermatozoa in the semen released and normal spermatozoa were registered. With the vitamin C increment in the ration, there was observed an increase on the percentual of primary pathologies and a reduction on the percentual of secondary pathologies. However, a reduction of the percentage of total pathologies was observed when 300 mg of vitamin C/kg of ration were added.