Antioxidant effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract in soybean lecithin-based semen extender following freeze-thawing process of ram sperm

Antioxidant effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract in soybean lecithin-based semen extender following freeze-thawing process of ram sperm

Motlagh MK, Sharafi M, Zhandi M, Mohammadi-Sangcheshmeh A, Shakeri M, Soleimani M, Zeinoaldini S

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran; Department of Poultry Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran; Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Aburaihan, University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Tehran, Iran; Department of Transgenic Animal Science, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran; Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran; Department of Transgenic Animal Science, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran; Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

The aim of current study was to evaluate effect of rosemary aqueous extract on post-thawed ram sperm quality in a soybean lecithin-based (SL) extender. Ram semen samples were obtained, extended with SL extender and supplemented with 0% (SL-R0), 2% (SL-R2), 4% (SL-R4), 6% (SL-R6), and 8% (SL-R8) rosemary aqueous extract. Following equilibration, the straws were frozen, and then plunged into the liquid nitrogen. After thawing, sperm motility and velocity parameters, plasma membrane functionality, viability, acrosomal and capacitation status were evaluated. Membrane lipid peroxidation was also analyzed through the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Our results showed that SL-R4 and SL-R6 groups resulted in higher (p < 0.05) percentages of total motility, progressive motility, and plasma membrane functionality, as compared with other groups. Highest (p < 0.05) viable and lowest (p < 0.05) dead spermatozoa were observed in SL-R6 group compared to the other groups. The acrosomal and capacitation status were not affected (p > 0.05) by different levels of rosemary aqueous extract. Lower (p < 0.05) MDA concentration has been observed in SL-R4 and SL-R6 groups. The results of this study demonstrate that supplementation of SL extender with rosemary aqueous extract influences post-thawed ram sperm quality in a dose dependent manner.

doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2014.07.007