ABSTRACT: This study was intended to evaluate the effect of Moringa Oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on reproductive hormones and semen quality traits in male rabbits. A total number of 24 New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits at 42 weeks of age, having an average body weight 3.00 ± 0.15 kg, were randomly divided into four equal treatment groups of six rabbits each. The 1st group (control) was fed a basal diet. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th treatments were fed on diets at 2.5, 5 and 7.5% MOLM inclusion levels of the total diet, respectively. Blood samples were collected through the marginal ear vein from each rabbit for biochemical and hormonal assay using standard procedures. In addition to, semen samples were collected weekly for 8 weeks and were analyzed for semen quality traits. Results of this experiment showed that, the use of moringa leaves in the diets of male rabbits led to a significant (P≤0.05) improvement in ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, live sperm, normal sperm and sperm motility compared to the control group. The results also showed a higher level of gonadotropic hormones (FSH, LH) and testosterone in rabbits fed on moringa compared to control group rabbits, a decrease in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in the groups fed diets containing moringa. It was also noted that there was an increase in the levels of total protein and HDL-cholesterol in the same groups, compared to the control group. Plasma ALT and AST decreased with all treatments of MOLM and this indicates that it has a role in improving liver health.
In conclusion, this study showed that replacement of 2.5, 5 and 7.5% of MOLM inclusion levels of the total diet seems to have a positive effect on blood biochemical, physiological response, hormonal changes and semen quality on male rabbits, and it could be used as a sexual promoter.