The study investigated the effects of betaine and ascorbic acid supplementation on serum gonadotropin, testicular histological features and sperm quality in male Japanese quails reared during the dry season. Two hundred and forty 14 day-old male Japanese quails, obtained commercially and housed in cages, were assigned randomly to four dietary treatments for 56 days. Each treatment comprised of 3 replicates (20 birds per replicate). Birds in Control group were fed only basal diet, while those in AA group consumed supplemental ascorbic acid at (200 mg/kg); BET group, betaine (2 g/kg) and AA + BET, a combination of AA (200 mg/kg) and betaine (2 g/kg) in diets. Feeds and water were offered to all birds ad libitum. The prevailing environmental conditions during the study predominantly exceeded the zone of thermal comfort for Japanese quails with DBT ranging from 25.0 to 37.0 °C; RH, 48.0-92.0% and THI, 69.8-91.0. At 28, 49 and 70 day-old, serum concentrations of malondialdhyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), gonadotropins [luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormones (FSH)] and testicular histological analyses were evaluated. Sperm quality was assessed in 70 day - old quails as sperm motility (SM), vitality (SV), total abnormalities (STA) and reserve (SR). Supplemental AA + BET decreased (P < 0.05) MDA, but improved (P < 0.05) SOD in 28, 49 and 70 day-old quails. Serum LH and FSH activities were enhanced (P < 0.05) in birds fed AA ± BET diets, but those which consumed BET or AA + BET showed enhanced (P < 0.05) testicular histological architecture and spermatogenic activities. Birds fed AA ± BET showed improved SM, SV and SR (P < 0.05), but lower STA in 70 days old male quails. It is concluded that supplementation of betaine and ascorbic acid enhances male reproductive potentials in Japanese quails during the dry season.

中文翻译：

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补充甜菜碱和抗坏血酸对旱季雄性日本鹌鹑血清促性腺激素、睾丸组织学分析和精子质量的影响

该研究调查了在旱季饲养的雄性日本鹌鹑中补充甜菜碱和抗坏血酸对血清促性腺激素、睾丸组织学特征和精子质量的影响。240 只 14 天大的雄性日本鹌鹑，从商业上获得并关在笼子里，被随机分配到 56 天的四种饮食处理中。每个处理包括 3 个重复（每个重复 20 只鸡）。对照组只饲喂基础日粮，AA组补充抗坏血酸（200mg/kg）；BET 组，甜菜碱 (2 g/kg) 和 AA + BET，饮食中 AA (200 mg/kg) 和甜菜碱 (2 g/kg) 的组合。随意向所有鸟类提供饲料和水。研究期间的主要环境条件主要超过了日本鹌鹑的热舒适区，DBT 范围为 25.0 至 37.0°C；RH，48.0-92.0% 和 THI，69.8-91.0。在 28、49 和 70 日龄时，评估血清丙二醛 (MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)、促性腺激素 [促黄体激素 (LH) 和促卵泡激素 (FSH)] 浓度和睾丸组织学分析。对 70 日龄鹌鹑的精子质量进行了评估，包括精子活力 (SM)、活力 (SV)、总异常 (STA) 和储备 (SR)。补充 AA + BET 在 28、49 和 70 日龄鹌鹑中降低 (P < 0.05) MDA，但改善 (P < 0.05) SOD。饲喂 AA ± BET 日粮的鸡只血清 LH 和 FSH 活性增强（P < 0.05），但食用 BET 或 AA + BET 的鸡只表现增强（P < 0. 05) 睾丸组织结构和生精活性。喂食 AA ± BET 的鸡的 SM、SV 和 SR 有所改善（P < 0.05），但 70 日龄雄性鹌鹑的 STA 较低。得出的结论是，在旱季补充甜菜碱和抗坏血酸可提高日本鹌鹑的雄性生殖潜力。