Effects of Adding Glutathione to AndroMed Diluent on Intact Plasma and Acrosome Membranes, and Progressive Motility of Cattle Spermatozoa During Freezing Processes

Abstract

Adding endogenous antioxidants to the diluent is significantly associated with semen quality during the freezing process. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding glutathione to AndroMed diluent on the preservation of crucial sperm attributes, namely, intact plasma membrane (IPM), intact acrosome membrane (IAM), and progressive motility of Bali cattle spermatozoa. A completely randomized design was used, and spermatozoa samples were obtained from a Bali cattle and divided into two diluent treatment groups (36 diluent samples in each group with six replications), namely pure AndroMed as the control and a group with the addition of glutathione (1 mmol) to AndroMed. Each treatment was replicated six times and evaluated at three freezing stages, including post-dilution, post-equilibration, and post-thawing, for crucial sperm properties. The results indicated that fresh Bali cattle spermatozoa had progressive motility, IAM, and IPM of 75%, 89%, and 88%, respectively. During the freezing process, there was a significant decrease in semen quality, including progressive motility, IAM, and IPM of spermatozoa after dilution to post-equilibration and post-equilibration to post-thawing in both treatment groups. Meanwhile, the addition of 1 mmol of glutathione to AndroMed diluent had a significant difference in increasing progressive motility, IAM, and IPM of Bali cattle spermatozoa at each stage of semen freezing, including post-dilution, post-equilibration, and post thawing when compared with controls. Based on the results, it can be concluded that adding 1 mmol of glutathione to the AndroMed diluent enhanced the quality and integrity of Bali cattle semen, including progressive motility, IAM, and IPM during the freezing process.