The present study was carried out on a flock of Bouscat rabbits belongs to El-Gemaiza Experimental Station, Animal Production Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt.
The experiment study lasted two months (from 6 up to 8 months of age) to investigate the effectsofdoses of garlic treatment on hematological, biochemical, hormonal and fertility parameters of male Bouscat rabbits. For this purpose, twenty four male Bouscat rabbits weighted 3150-3300 g were distributed into four experimental groups with equal number (n = 6). The first group was used as a control and subcutaneously injected with saline solution (1 ml of 0.9% NaCl), the second, third and fourth groups were subcutaneously injected once a week for 8 weeks with garlic 3, 9 and 27 mg/kg body weight, respectively.
Results showed that, the total numbers of RBCs and WBCs counts as well as Hb concentration in male rabbits treated with different doses of garlic (3, 9 or 27 mg/kg body weight, once a week for 8 weeks) were significantly (P ≤ 0.05 or P ≤ 0.01) increased by increasing the dose of garlic. Lower dose of garlic (3 mg/kg body weight) showed slight increases (P ≤ 0.05) in total protein and albumin levels and a slight decrease(P ≤ 0.05) in globulin level, the higher doses (9 and 27 mg/kg body weight) showed marked decreases (P ≤ 0.05) in total protein, albumin and globulin levels. The total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride levelsin male rabbits treated with different doses of garlic were decreased by increasing the dose of garlic, this decrease was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05 or P ≤ 0.01)with the higher doses (9 and 27 mg/kg body weight). Garlic treatment to buck rabbits elicited a slight increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level, while it showed marked decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels. The activity of AST enzyme for buck rabbits treated with different doses of garlic was insignificantly changed by increasing the dose of garlic. While, the lower dose of garlic (3 mg/kg body weight) slightly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) , ALT and ALP enzyme activities, the higher doses (9 and 27 mg/kg body weight) showed increases (P ≤ 0.05) in ALT and ALP enzyme activities of male rabbits. Treatment of buck rabbits with different doses of garlic slightly insignificantly decreased the urea level and slightly insignificantly increased creatinine level. Testosterone levels in rabbits treated with different doses of garlicwere increased by increasing the dose of garlic, however, this increase was statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) with the doses 9 and 27 mg/kg. Lower dose of garlic (3 mg/kg body weight) elicited increases in theejaculate volume, concentration, the total output, the wave motions, the motility percentages, the percentages of live spermatozoa and the percentages of abnormal spermatozoa. However, the higher doses (9 and 27 mg/kg body weight) showed decreases in theejaculate volumes, the wave motions and the motility percentages, but increased concentrations and abnormal spermatozoa.
Conclusively, it can be concluded that the lower doses of garlic can be safely used and improved fertility parameters of buck rabbits however, the higher doses may cause problems.