The effect of exposure to direct solar radiation on the semen characteristics of the male rabbit.
Three groups of cross-bred bucks (Baladi X standard breeds) were exposed to solar radiation for three hours per day during an 8-week experimental period in June and July and were compared with a control subgroup of the same age. Each subgroup (experimental and control) comprised 10 bucks, totalling 60 bucks. The effects were determined and assessed during the 28-week period following the experiment. The exposure to solar radiation at 5 or 12 weeks of age caused a delay in the onset of puberty. In all three groups, the concentration of sperms and the fructose content were decreased. There was a marked increase in the proportion of abnormal or dead sperms and in the methylene blue reduction time. The young animals were most affected by the exposure.
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005632:Fructose / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits / Q000502:physiology*; D012661:Semen / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013472:Sunlight; D013696:Temperature
D005632:Fructose