Effects of organic and inorganic selenium supplementation on frozen-thawed ram semen at two cooling periods

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different selenium compounds on the sperm quality of cryopreserved ram semen. Ejaculates from four rams, collected using an artificial vagina heated to 38  °C, were individually evaluated. The approved ejaculates were pooled and diluted (1:1 v:v) in Tris-egg yolk extender (20%, v/v) and separated into two control groups, one cooled for 2 h and the other for 4 h. The pooled ejaculates at the two cooling periods were supplemented with two doses (0.5 and 1 μg/mL) of organic selenium (ORG), and inorganic selenium (SeNa), each. The samples were packed in 0.25 ml straws, at a concentration of 400 × 106 sperms/mL and stored in liquid nitrogen. The straws were thawed in a water bath at 37  °C for 20 s, and the samples were subjected to sperm kinetics evaluation by Computer Assisted Semen Analysis software. Sperm membrane integrity, acrosome morphology, and mitochondrial potential were assessed. In addition, oxidative stress markers reactive oxygen species (ROS), ferric reducing an tioxidant power (FRAP), thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme activity) were also evaluated. No significant improvement was observed in the ram semen quality at the two cooling times. Supplementation of the freezing extender with 0.5 μg/mL ORG, subje cted to 4 h cooling period, increased the sperm motility when compared with the control group at the same cooling time. In addition, t...
Source: Veterinary Research Communications - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research