The objectives of this study were to compare glycerol (G) and ethylene glycol (EG) at different concentrations and trehalose (T) or cysteine (C; with/without) in Tris extender for cryopreservation of bull semen. Twenty-four ejaculates obtained from three bulls were included in the study. Each ejaculate was divided into four equal aliquots and diluted using both of the Tris extenders with G (5% or 7%) or EG (3% or 5%). After that, each extenders were divided into three equal aliquots and diluted using both of the 5 mM C or 25 mM T, and control (without additives) was cooled to 4 ° C and frozen in 0.25 ml French straws. The addition of 3% and 5% EG without antioxidants resulted in the least Computer-Assisted Sperm motility Analysis (CASA) motility as compared with the other groups. Treatment with 25 mM T in 3% EG beneficially effected acrosome morphology as compared with the other groups. Also, treatment with 3% EG with 25 mM T and 5% EG resulted in a greater rate of total abnormalities. Treatment with 3% G yielded a slightly greater percentage of membrane integrity by Hypo-Osmotic Swelling Test (HOST) assessment than that of the other groups. Treatment with 3% EG with 5 mM C resulted in the greatest concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). The glutathione peroxidase (GPx) antioxidant activity was increased in the C-treatment groups when compared to the other groups. Treatment with 5% EG and 5 mM C resulted in less chromatin damage and detrimental impacts on tail moment. Treatment with 5% EG led to greater non-return rates of inseminated cows. However, this result was not considered to be statistically important.
Keywords: Antioxidants; Bull semen; Cryoprotectant; Fertility; Freezing.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.