QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lillie, R. J. Articles by Menge, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lillie, R. J. Articles by Menge, H.

Effect of Linoleic Acid Deficiency on the Fertilizing Capacity and Semen Fatty Acid Profile of the Male Chicken

Animal Husbandry Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland

To determine the effect of a linoleic acid deficiency on the fertilizing capacity of the chicken, White Leghorn males were fed a vitamin-free casein-gelatin basal diet practically devoid of linoleic acid from 4 weeks of age. Corn oil was used as a source of linoleic acid. On the basis of one insemination (0.05 cm³ undiluted semen) per hen per 3-week period, a linoleic acid deficiency significantly decreased the average fertility of males. No differences in fertility were observed between the groups fed the linoleic acid-supplemented diet and a practical diet. There were no differences in percentage of dead germs, pipped eggs, or chicks hatched among the dietary treatments. The fertilizing capacity, as measured by the decline in number of fertilized eggs after a single insemination, indicated that the linoleic acid deficiency resulted in a decrease of fertility below 90% on day 4 after insemination as contrasted with day 9 for the linoleic acid-supplemented diet. Linoleic acid deficiency had no effect on body weight maintenance, feed consumption, semen volume, sperm motility, and sperm count. Fatty acid determinations of semen and blood indicated a much lower value for linoleic acid in the linoleic acid-deficient group than for the supplemented groups. Two fatty acids tentatively identified as docosadienoic and docosatetraenoic were found in semen lipid. The percentages of docosadienoic and docosatetraenoic were 6 times larger and 6 times less, respectively, in the deficient semen than in the nondeficient semen. The significance of these findings remains to be elucidated.