RESUMEN

To sustain the viability of the sperm of farm animals, the sperm is chilled. However, reactive oxygen species (ROS) may damage it, resulting in oxidative stress and decreased sperm viability. This study aimed to assess the various concentrations of vitamin D3 as antioxidants in the chilled sperm of Awassi. This study was performed on 23 ejaculates from three Awassi rams. The samples were combined, diluted with Tris-egg yolk extender (1:10), and then divided into aliquots. Aliquots were treated with three vitamin D3 concentrations (T1=0.02, T2=0.004, and T3=0.002 g/ml) and one control without the addition of vitamin D3. The experimental and control groups were chilled to reach 5 ºC. Following treatment, the samples were centrifuged at 2,000 RPM for 20 min at 0 and 72 h after the treatment. Until evaluation, the seminal plasm was stored in a freezer at 20 ºC. In this study, the antioxidant activity of vitamin D3 was evaluated using malondialdehyde (MDA), ROS, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). The SAS software was used to analyze variance on repeated measures with a single factor. The results indicated that the TAC and SOD were considerably higher in T1, compared to that in T0, T1, and T2. In addition, CAT was considerably higher in T2 than in T0, T1, and T3. However, ROS and MDA did not differ significantly among the experimental groups. Despite the absence of a statistically significant difference among experimental groups, MDA decreased quantitatively on T1, relative to other experimental groups. In conclusion, a deficiency in vitamin D3 has a potential antioxidant capability, introducing a novel method for extending sperm storage.

Asunto(s)

Antioxidantes , Preservación de Semen , Masculino , Animales , Semen , Especies Reactivas de Oxígeno/farmacología , Colecalciferol/farmacología , Motilidad Espermática , Preservación de Semen/veterinaria , Preservación de Semen/métodos , Oveja Doméstica , Superóxido Dismutasa/farmacología

RESUMEN

The present study was aimed to test the efficacy of adding vitamins C or E to Tris-fructose-egg yolk diluent to increase Awassi ram sperm storage period at 5 ˚C. Semen samples from six mature Awassi rams were used in this study. The semen samples were diluted by Tris-glucose-egg yolk. Diluted semen sample was divided into three parts. The first part was added with 0.9 mg mL(-1) vitamin C, the second part was added with 1 mg mL(-1) vitamin E and the third part was considered as a control without any addition. The diluted semen samples were cooled gradually and preserved at 5 ˚C for five days. Sperms in cooled diluted semen samples were examined for motility, vitality, abnormalities and acrosomal defects every 24 hr for five days. Results of the present study showed an increase in the viability of spermatozoa diluted in the Tris diluent containing vitamins C or E stored at 5 ˚C for 120 hr compared with the control group. There were significant (p < 0.05) effects of vitamins C and E addition to semen diluents on sperm motility as well as the sperm viability in different times of preservation at 5 ˚C. Significant (p < 0.05) higher sperm abnormalities and acrosomal defects values (37.6 ± 1.3% and 71.5 ± 1.1%, respectively) were found after 120 hr incubation in Tris free vitamin C (Control) at 5 ˚C compared with those of containing vitamin C (18.8 ± 1.8% and 52.8 ± 4.3%, respectively). From the results of the present study, it could be concluded, that the addition of antioxidants such as vitamins C and vitamin E to semen preservation media could improve longevity and quality of cooled sperm in Awassi ram semen.