EFFECT OF VARIOUS ANTIOXIDANTS ON OXIDATIVE STRESS INDICATORS AND QUALITY OF FROZEN - THAWED SEMEN FROM BULLS

Iancho Todorov, Tania Todorova

Abstract: Cryopreservation relates to production of reactive oxygenic substances (ROS), which lead to lipid peroxidation of the sperm membrane, leading to a loss of sperm motility, viability and fertility. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of two antioxidants – reduced glutathione (GSH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the standard indicators of sperm quality (motility, acrosome and common abnormalities, HOST test) endogenic antioxidant enzyme activities and fertility of frozen - thawed semen from a bull.
Eighteen ejaculate from three indigenous bull obtained by artificial vagina were used. The ejaculate of nine samples are diluted with diluent Bioxcell® enriched with antioxidants including BSA (5 mg/ml), GSH (2 mM) and a diluent containing no antioxidants (control). The addition of antioxidants results in lower rates of acrosomal damages and common abnormalities. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in all experimental groups was lower than the control group. Furthermore, BSA increased the activity of catalase after the process of freezing - thawing.

Keywords: antioxidants; bulls; semen

Date published: 2017-05-18