Effect of vitamin E supplementation on development of reproductive organs in Boer goat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of Vitamin E in diet on development of reproductive organs in Boer goat. Twenty-four healthy, Boer male kids of similar body weight (BW) were selected at 3 months of age from the kid flock. The Boer kids were randomly divided into four groups and each group was supplemented with Vitamin E at 0, 80, 320 or 880 IU kid−1 d−1 for 5 months. Three Boer goats in each group were slaughtered at the age of 8 months and measured for testis and epididymises and a ductus deferens biopsy by H&E stained slides was run. The results showed that supplementing 80 and 320 IU kid−1 d−1 Vitamin E increased weights of the epididymis and the numeric density of convoluted seminiferous tubules. Diameters of convoluted seminiferous tubules and epididymis ductules and numeric density of spermatogenic cells tended to be larger in 80 IU kid−1 d−1 compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Weight of ductus deferens and thickness of epididymis wall were increased significantly with 320 IU kid−1 d−1 (P < 0.01). However, no significant effects were observed on thickness of germinal epithelium, numeric density of leydig cells, testis weight or indexes of ductus deferens (P > 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing 80 and 320 IU kid−1 d−1 Vitamin E in diets significantly simulates the development of reproductive organs in Boer goats. No significantly improved effects were found from supplementing 880 IU kid−1 d−1.