EFFECT OF DIETARY NICKEL SUPPLEMENTATION ON CONTENT OF MINERAL ELEMENTS IN RABBIT TESTES

Abstract

This study reports the effect of dietary nickel (Ni) on the accumulation of magnesium (Mg), potassium (K) and copper (Cu) in testes of rabbits. Broiler rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of experimental groups were fed a granular mixture with addition of various concentrations of Ni (E1 – 17.5 g NiCl2 per 100 kg of feed mixture, group E2 - 35.0 g NiCl2 per 100 kg of feed mixture). Group of rabbits withou Ni addition served as control (C). After the 90-days experimental period biological material (testes) was taken from the animals. Samples were analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) method. The concentrations of Mg, K and Cu in testes in groups with dietary Ni supplement were not influenced Ni and differences among the groups remained insignificant (P>0.05).