Effects of exogenous melatonin and zinc amino acid on male clarias macrocephalus broodstock

Abstract

Background and Objective: Melatonin and zinc amino acid is involved in the reproductive processes through the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis and development process, respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin and zinc amino acid (ZnAA) feeding administration on the maturation of male walking catfish, Clarias macrocephalus. Materials and Methods: The combinations of melatonin and ZnAA at the concentration of 0 ppm ZnAA and 0 mg kg-1 melatonin (Control), 100 ppm ZnAA and 50 mg kg-1 melatonin (MZn1) and 200 ppm ZnAA and 50 mg kg-1 melatonin (MZn2) were to enhance male reproductive system. The testis histology, gonadosomatic index and sperm quality were investigated. Results: The melatonin-ZnAA feed was found to be consistent with higher spermatozoa cell counts (Control: 51.3%, MZn1: 75% and MZn2: 70.5%). Furthermore, the feeding treatment increased the gonadosomatic index (0.45-0.96%, p: 0.005), decreased the sperm abnormality (14.5-44%, p: 0.022), increased the sperm motility (3.9-25.5%, p: 0.013) and increased the sperm concentration (109.4-317.5 106 mL-1, p: 0.037) after 8 weeks of treatment. Conclusion: The present results showed that melatonin-ZnAA (MZn2) helped in enhancing the maturation of male C. macrocephalus.