Extender ability to Store Chicken Sperm by using L-Carnitine, Methionine and Honey

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of L-Carnitine (LC), L-Methionine (LM) and Honey (H) supplementation on Lake’s diluent ability to store chicken sperm. Semen samples were collected from local meat type chicken males (n=20, by abdominal massage method. Two experiments were carried out. In Exp-I twelve treatments were prepared in Lake’s diluent mixing different concentrations of LC (i.e., 0.5mMLC, 1mMLC, 2mMLC and 4mMLC), LM (i.e., 0.5mMLM, 1mMLM, 2mMLM and 4mMLM) and H (i.e., 0.25%H, 0.5%H, 1%H and 2%H) while Lake’s diluent without any addition was used as control. In Exp-II four treatments were prepared by mixing different proportions of LC + LM + H in Lake’s diluent as followed: T1 (0.125mMLC + 0.125LM + 0.125%H), T2 (0.25mMLC + 0.25LM + 0.25%H), T3 (0.5mMLC + 0.5LM + 0.5%H) and T4 (1mMLC + 1mMLM + 1%H), while semen mixed only with Lake’s diluent was used as control (To). In both experiments semen was stored up till 48h at 5°C and sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity and abnormal morphology were assessed at 0, 12, 24 and 48h of storage. In Exp-I after 48h we recorded highest (P<0.05) motility (62%) with 2mMLM, membrane integrity with 0.25%H and 0.5%H (43%), sperm viability with 0.25% H (70%) compared with all other treatments, while lowest morphological defects with 1mMLC (29%) and 1mMLM (29%). In Exp-II at 48h we observed highest (P<0.05) motility (52%) and membrane integrity (48%) with T1 compared with all other treatments. We observed highest (P<0.05) sperm viability (64%) with T2 while T1 and T2 had lowest morphological defects (Avg. 29%). It is concluded that 2mMLM supports high motility while honey support viability and membrane integrity till 48h. In addition to that a combination of 0.125mMLC + 0.125mMLM + 0.125%H gives good protection to sperm during liquid semen storage in Lake’s diluemt.