The objective of the present study was to evaluate different reproductive parameters of ram lambs treated with sodium fluoride. Spermogram, indicators of seminal oxidative profile, seminiferous tubules diameter and cell height of the testicular epithelium, epididimus and vas deferens were analyzed. Twelve 5-month-old ram lambs were used. They were allocated into one of two experimental groups: The control, which received daily iodized salt (5g NaCl animal-1 + 0.2mg I kg-1 DM); and the treated, which received (5g NaCl animal-1 + 0.2mg I kg-1 DM + 4.7mg F kg-1 BW). After 150 days of treatment, animals went through a complete andrological exam, and were euthanized on the next day. No differences were observed in sperm motility, dead: alive ratio and morphology between the control and treated group. Also, seminal concentration of reduced glutathione and zinc, as well as, testicular weight, histology and morphometry of testicles, caudal portion of epididimus and vas deferens did not differ between groups. The seminal concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) and seminal copper levels were lower (P<0.05) in the treated group. We conclude that chronic fluoride administration to lambs does not affect reproductive capacity as a whole. However, the data suggest that fluoride can induce a reduction in seminal lipoperoxidation and copper levels with are essential for sperm capacitation and fertilization.
fluoride; sheep; reproduction; histology; TBARs; reduced glutathione
