Effect of adding Ferula hermonis Boiss roots and some antioxidants to Tris extender on post-cryopreserved sperm’s cell individual motility and live sperm percentages of Holstein bulls

Abstract

This study was carried out to explore the adding effect of alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots and some antioxidants to Tris extender on post-cryopreserved sperm's cell individual motility and live sperm percentages of Holstein bulls for different preservation periods (cooling at 5°C, 2, 30 and 60 days post cryopreservation, PC). Eight Holstein bulls of 2.5-3 years of age were used in this study. Semen was collected via artificial vagina in one ejaculate per bull per week for the 7-week experimental period. Pooled semen was equally divided into eight treatments using Tris extender. The alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots (0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender; T2), L-Carnitine (0.06g/ 50 ml extender; T3), reduced glutathione (0.03 g/ 50 ml extender; T4), vitamin C (0.2 g/ 50 ml extender; T5), L-Carnitine; 0.06g/ 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots; 0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender (T6), reduced glutathione; 0.03 g/ 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots; 0.03 ml / 50 ml extender (T7) and vitamin C; 0.2 g/ 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots; 0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender (T8) were added to Tris extender and comparisons in response were made with the control group (Tris extender, A1). The total phenolic compound of the extract was 124.38 ± 5.05 mg GAE/ g extract and the extract with 0.01 and 0.03% did not hemolyze the red blood cells and had not poisoning effect on blood cells. The T2 group exhibited higher (P≤0.05) sperm's cells individual motility and live sperm percentage as compared with the T1 group at all preservation periods. On the other hand, T3 group was significantly (P≤0.05) exhibited greater percentages of sperm's cells individual motility and live sperms percentages in comparison with the T1 group at all preservation periods. In conclusion, the adding of alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots (0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender) and L-Carnitine (0.06g/ 50 ml extender) to Tris extender had an obvious influence in enhancing the sperm's cell individual motility and live sperm percentages of Holstein bulls at different cooling and cryopreservation periods as compared with the control (T1) group. This may contribute to a positive enhancement in conception and pregnancy rates of the inseminated cows, and consequently increase the owner's economic income.