title: Alpha-linolenic acid supplementation in tris extender can improve frozen-thawed bull semen quality.
abstract: The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of α-linolenic acid (ALA) on frozen-thawed quality and fatty acid composition of bull sperm. For that, twenty-four ejaculates obtained from three bulls were diluted in a Tris extender containing 0 (control), 3, 5, 10 and 15 ng/ml of ALA. Extended semen was incubated at 37°C for 15 min, to allow absorption of ALA by sperm cell membrane. The sample was chilled for 2 h, packed into 0.25-ml straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen for 24 h. Subsequently, straws were thawed and evaluated for total sperm motility (computer-assisted semen analysis), membrane functional integrity (hypo-osmotic swelling test), viability (eosin-nigrosin), fatty acid composition (gas chromatography) and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)). A higher (p < 0.05) percentage of total sperm motility was observed in ALA groups 5 ng/ml (47.74 ± 07) and 10 ng/ml (44.90 ± 0.7) in comparison with control (34.53 ± 3.0), 3 ng/ml (34.40 ± 2.6) and 15 ng/ml (34.60 ± 2.9). Still, the 5 ng/ml ALA group presented a higher (p < 0.05) percentage of viable sperms (74.13 ± 0.8) and sperms with intact membrane (74.46 ± 09) than all other experimental groups. ALA concentration and lipid peroxidation in post-thawed sperm was higher in all treated groups when compared to the control group. As such, the addition of 5 ng/ml of ALA to Tris extender improved quality of frozen-thawed bull spermatozoa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia; Sindh Agriculture University, Tando jam, Pakistan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wahid
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rosnina
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yimer
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khumran
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Behan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014325:Tromethamine; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014325:Tromethamine; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid