# Effects of varying concentrations of Ubiquinol (coenzyme Q10) on physiological parameters in male donkeys (Equus asinus)

## TL;DR

This study shows that adding ubiquinol (CoQ10) to donkey feed improves hormone levels linked to semen quality, especially during non-breeding seasons.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that ubiquinol supplementation improves plasma hormone concentrations in donkeys, potentially enhancing semen quality.

## Key findings

- Feeding 2g ubiquinol/day increased plasma testosterone, FSH, LH, AMH, Activin-A, E2, and Q10 levels.
- Ubiquinol supplementation improved hormone profiles associated with semen quality in donkeys.
- Results suggest ubiquinol may be beneficial for donkey reproductive health during non-breeding seasons.

## Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) serves as an antioxidant, and it is considered an energy source. Ubiquinol inhibits lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. We fed CoQ10-ubiquinol in donkeys’ feed and investigated its effect on plasma hormone concentrations of Testosterone (T), Activin-A, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Antimullerian hormone (AMH), estradiol (E2), and Q10 in donkeys. For this purpose, Dezhou jacks, n = 30, were equally divided into groups A, B, and C. Group A donkeys were given 2 g Uboquinol (CoQ10)/day. Group B received 1.5 g CoQ10/day, and group C served as the control group. Experimental duration was 56 days. The objective of the present study was to check the effect of various concentrations of Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinol) on plasma hormones that ultimately affect semen quality in donkeys, especially during the non-breeding season. Results indicate that the addition of Ubiquinol in donkey feed has a tendency to improve plasma hormone concentrations of T, FSH, LH, AMH, Activin-A, E2, and Q10. Our findings suggested that feeding 2 g of Ubiquinol/day mixed into 1 pound of grain-based concentrate with molasses improved plasma hormone concentrations. In conclusion, our findings suggest that feeding CoQ10 may improve donkey semen quality.