Antioxidant supplementation ameliorates bull sperm parameters and fertilizing ability following the freeze-thaw process

Abstract

This study’s goal was to reveal the effects of antioxidant supplementation on motility, motion characters, morphology, DNA integrity, and fertilizing potential of cryopreserved bovine sperm. The ejaculates were collected from three Holstein bulls. At least ten ejaculates were collected per bull. The ejaculates were immediately separated into five aliquots, diluted in the Cryobos (Magapor Co. Ltd., Zaragoza, Spain) commercial extender, including 2.5 mM taurine, 2.5 mM cysteine, 2.5 mM methionine, 2.5 mM glutamine, and no additives were used. Afterward, they were frozen in 0.25 mL French straws, and liquid nitrogen was used for the storage of semen. The supplementation of methionine resulted in a higher subjective motility rate in comparison with the other groups. Taurine led to the lowest post-thawed CASA motility rate (p 0.05). Cysteine led to a higher protection of acrosome abnormality, in comparison with the other groups (p 0.05). In conclusion, cysteine supplementation to the semen extender prior to freezing ameliorated the post-thawed semen quality.