Abdelnour, Sameh A.Al-Gabri, Naif A.Hashem, Nesrein M.González de Bulnes López, AntonioProducción Científica UCH 2021UCH. Departamento de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Salud Pública Veterinaria y Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos2022-01-262022-01-262021-02-02Abdelnour, S.A., Al-Gabri, N.A.; Hashem, N.M. & Gonzalez-Bulnes, A. (2021). Supplementation with proline improves haemato-biochemical and reproductive indicators in male rabbits affected by environmental heat-stress. Animals, vol. 11, i. 2 (02 feb.), art. 373. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani110203732076-2615 (Electrónico)http://hdl.handle.net/10637/13349Este artículo se encuentra disponible en la siguiente URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/373Este artículo pertenece a la sección "Animal Reproduction".Twenty-four adult rabbit bucks (n = 6 per treatment) were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 50, 100, and 150 mg proline/kg dry matter (DM) diet for 12 weeks to determine possible usefulness for alleviating the negative impact of environmental heat stress on redox status, haemato-biochaemical attributes and semen quality. There were significant dose–response effects, with increments in levels of dietary proline (LDP) quadratically improving red blood cell counts (p = 0.017), rectal temperature (p = 0.009), and respiratory rate (p < 0.001). Increasing LDP cubically affected superoxide dismutase activity in blood plasma (p = 0.012) and total antioxidant capacity in both blood and seminal plasma (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). The optimal response was observed at 30 and 80 mg proline/kg DM for blood and seminal plasma, respectively. With regards to homeostasis indexes, increments in LDP cubically modified blood plasma concentrations of total protein (p = 0.002) and albumin (p < 0.001), with an optimal response found at 70 mg proline/kg DM. A linear relationship (p = 0.005) was also observed between LDP and blood plasma glucose concentrations, with the optimal response being found at 100 mg proline/kg DM. Increasing LDP also showed positive effects on reproductive traits, with quadratic increases in blood plasma testosterone and cortisol concentrations (p < 0.001; optimal responses at 50 and 60 mg proline/kg DM, respectively), a positive linear relationship with in libido, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and total sperm count (p < 0.001 for all; optimal responses observed at 100 mg proline/kg DM) and a quadratic increase in total functional sperm fraction (p < 0.001; optimal response at 70 mg proline mg/kg DM). Hence, the optimal positive effects of dietary proline supplementation on redox status, blood metabolites, and reproductive traits of rabbit bucks may be achieved at 50–100 mg/kg DM.application/pdfenopen accessRabbits - Reproduction.Rabbits - Metabolism.Conejos - Reproducción.Antioxidantes.Conejos - Metabolismo.Antioxidants.Artículohttps://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020373https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.es