title: Testing usability of butylated hydroxytoluene in conservation of goat semen.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate whether butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) could be used as a suitable supporter or alternative of egg yolk during preservation of goat spermatozoa. Three in vitro experiments and a fertility test were conducted to evaluate the effect of BHT on viability of chilled-stored semen as well as motility and kidding rate of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. In the first two experiments, ejaculates (n = 30/experiment) were collected from 10 bucks, split, diluted with egg yolk-based and egg yolk-free extenders supplemented with or without 0.3, 0.6, 2, 5 and 8 mM BHT and stored at 5 degrees C for 168 h. In the third experiment, 30 ejaculates were collected from the above-mentioned bucks, split and diluted with egg yolk-free extenders supplemented with or without 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mM BHT and egg yolk-based extenders supplemented with or without 5 mM BHT. Diluted semen was cooled to 5 degrees C over a period of 4 h, frozen and thawed in the form of 0.3-ml pellets. In the fertility test, 75 ejaculates were collected from two proven fertile bucks, split, diluted with egg yolk-free extenders containing 0.6 mm BHT and egg yolk-based extenders supplemented with or without 5 mM BHT, frozen and thawed as described above. An insemination volume of 0.6 ml containing 120-140 x 10(6) progressively motile spermatozoa was used for a single cervical insemination of cloprostenol-synchronized does (n = 230). The results showed that addition of 5 mM BHT to egg yolk-deficient (2.5%) extenders significantly improved viability of chilled-stored semen together with motility (48.5%) and fertility (62.5%) of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Replacement of egg yolk in semen extenders by 0.6 mm BHT could sustain not only viability of chilled-stored semen but also post-thaw motility (47.5%) and fertility (53.75%) of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. In conclusion, supplementation of semen diluents with BHT can ameliorate preservability of goat sperm.
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural Research Foundation - Veterinary Research Institute, Ionia, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: T A A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Khalifa
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Lymberopoulos
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: El-Saidy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004530:Egg Yolk; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006041:Goats; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012661:Semen; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene