Can honey improve the quality of cryopreserved cross bred ram semen added to tris egg yolk extender?

BACKGROUND: Honey can improve the quality of cryopreserved ram semen because of its multinutrient and cryoprotective nature added to standard tris egg yolk extender. OBJECTIVE: Different concentrations of honey were added to the standard tris egg yolk extender to improve the post-thaw quality of crossbred ram semen. METHOD: Thirty six (36) ejaculates from eight healthy cross bred rams were pooled and divided into four aliquots. Standard tris egg yolk extender without any alteration acted as Control (C) and was supplemented with different concentrations of honey, viz. T1 (honey 1.5%), T2 (2.5%), and T3 (3.5%). RESULTS: The percent (mean ± S.E.M) sperm motility at pre-freeze was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Group T2 and at post-thaw in Group T3 in comparison to T1 and C treatment groups. The percent (mean ± S.E.M) HOST reacted spermatozoa at post-thaw was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in Group C and at pre-freeze the value was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the same treatment group than Group T1. The mean MDA level (mean ± S.E.M) at post thaw was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in Group T3 than the treatment groups C and Group T1. CONCLUSION: From this study it is concluded that the addition of 3.5% honey to the standard tris egg yolk extender provides better protection to ram semen than the addition of 1.5% honey (i.e., Control). doi.org/10.54680/fr22610110212.

Effect of Idebenone, Resveratrol and Taurine on the Sperm Quality and Lipid Peroxidation of Cryopreserved Crossbred Ram Semen.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress and improve sperm quality during cryopreservation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of idebenone, resveratrol and taurine on the sperm quality and lipid peroxidation of cryopreserved crossbred ram semen. METHODS: In a split study, pooled ejaculates were divided into four aliquots cryopreserved in tris extender with no antioxidant (control), with idebenone (0.01 mM), resveratrol (0.1 mM), and taurine (40 mM). RESULT: Among all antioxidants, taurine treatment yielded significantly better sperm quality. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in seminal plasma was significantly lower for taurine compared to the control, idebenone and resveratrol treatments. Moreover, sperm quality declined significantly in all the groups from pre-freeze to post-thaw. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that taurine at 40 mM significantly improves sperm quality compared to 0.01 mM idebenone and 0.1 mM resveratrol, hence it can be considered as a potent and promising antioxidant supplement in tris extender for the cryopreservation of crossbred ram semen.

In vitro Assessment of Tris Egg Yolk and Soybean Lecithin Based Extenders for Cryopreservation of Crossbred Ram Semen.

BACKGROUND: The replacement of egg yolk with alternative plant-derived soybean lecithin is gaining interest in both animal and human sperm cryopreservation owing to biosecurity issues with egg yolk based extenders. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the comparative effect of egg yolk and soyabean lecithin based extenders on the quality of cryopreserved crossbred ram semen. METHODS: Pooled ejaculates (total ejaculates = 36) were divided into two aliquots and extended with Tris egg yolk extender (Tris extender) and soybean lecithin based commercial extender (Ovixcell) RESULTS: Among the two extenders, Ovixcell showed better sperm quality both at the pre-freeze (Sperm motility) and post-thaw stages. Lower malondialdehyde (MDA) level (nmol/mL) was observed in Ovixcell as compared to Tris extender. Both sperm quality and MDA level decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from pre-freeze to post-thaw in both the extenders. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study indicate that Ovixcell is a comparable alternative to Tris extender for the cryopreservation of crossbred ram semen.