Activity of Enzymatic Antioxidants and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Seminal Plasma of Murrah Bulls during Cryopreservation

Abstract

Semen samples with mass motility of 4+ or more and an initial progressive motility ≥ 80% collected from murrah buffalo bulls were utilized for study. Semen samples were evaluated for various seminal attributes, enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and total antioxidant capacity at fresh, pre-freeze and post-thaw stage. Seminal attributes (progressive motility, viability, acrosomal integrity and hypo-osmotic swelling response) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in bull II as compared to bulls (I & III) at pre-freeze and post-thaw stage. Superoxide dismutase was significantly higher in bulls (II & III) than bull I at fresh stage (p<0.05) and significantly (p<0.01) higher in bull II as compared to bulls (I & III) at pre-freeze and post-thaw stage. Catalase was significantly higher in bull II than bulls (I & III) at fresh (p<0.05) and pre-freeze (p<0.01) stage. Significantly, higher total antioxidant capacity was noticed at pre-freeze (p<0.05) and post-thaw (p<0.01) stage in bull II and bulls (II & III), than bulls (I & III) and bull I, respectively. On the basis of our findings, it could be concluded that seminal enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase & catalase) and total antioxidant capacity varied among bulls at various stages of cryopreservation. There was progressive reduction in activity of enzymatic antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity from fresh to post-thaw stage.