The cryopreservation process adversely affects sperm function and quality traits, causing some changes at biochemical and structural levels, due to mechanical, thermal, osmotic, and oxidative damage. Supplementation with curcumin nanoparticles could prevent and even revert this effect and could enhance the post/thawed sperm quality in the rabbit. The study amid to explore the effect of curcumin (CU) and curcumin nanoparticles (CUNPs) supplementation in semen extender on post/thawed rabbit sperm quality. Twelve fertile, healthy rabbit bucks were included, and the ejaculates were collected using artificial vaginas. Rabbit pooled semen was cryopreserved in tris-yolk fructose (TYF) extender without any supplement (control group) or extender supplemented with CU at levels of 0.5, 1 or 1.5 µg/mL (CU0.5, CU1.0, and CU1.5, respectively) or CUNPs at levels of 0.5, 1, 1.5 (CUNPs0.5, CUNPs1.0, and CUNPs1.5, respectively) and was packed in straws (0.25 mL) and stored in liquid nitrogen (−196 °C). Results revealed that CUNPs1.5 had a positive influence (p < 0.05) on post-thawing sperm progressive motility, viability, and membrane integrity as compared with the other groups. Percentages of dead sperm, abnormalities, early apoptotic, apoptotic, and necrotic sperm cells reduced (p < 0.05) in CUNPs1.5 as compared to other treatments. Using 1.5 µg/mL of CUNPs significantly improved total antioxidant capacity (TAC), GPx, while MDA and POC reduced (p < 0.05) in CU1.5 in comparison with other groups. SOD values were enhanced (p < 0.05) in CUNPs1.0 and CUNPs1.5 in relation with other treatments. Conclusively, the addition of curcumin and its nanoparticles to the extender can improve the post-thawed quality of rabbit sperm via redox signaling and reduce the apoptosis process.

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SOJ Veterinary SciencesOpen Access Research Article modifications have been proposed for the freezing process [6]. It has been estimated that only 30-40% of stallions produce semen suitable for cryopreservation [7]. Moreover, consistent variation of sperm freezability has been observed from breed to breed [8,9]. At present, there is no standard protocol for stallion semen cryopreservation able to achieve consistent and acceptable post thaw sperm fertilizing capacity with every ejaculate [10]. That lack of standard can be attributed to many factors, including damage to the sperm membrane that may occur during the process of freezing or thawing [11]. In addition, the cryopreservation extender has an important influence on post thaw sperm quality [11].Many diluents have been used in different animal species, with good results in post thaw sperm motility, but they have not been used with the semen of Arabian horses. Several diluents have been used in stallion semen, with good results such as Kenney's diluent, cream-gel, skim milk diluent, glycine egg yolk, sugar-based extender and INRA 96 extender [12,13]. The use of Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA), which facilitates objective measurement of several parameters of sperm motility, offers a more reliable and repeatable means of assessing sperm motility than does examination by eye [14]. The CASA system is therefore able to determine a series of variables, including number of moving spermatozoa, Curvilinear Velocity (VCL), Linear Velocity (VSL), Linear Coefficient (LIN), straightness coefficient (STR) and frequency of head displacement (BCF) [15].Success with frozen semen requires attention to detail and a basic understanding of the techniques involved in the proper handling, thawing, and insemination of frozen semen [7]. Frozen stallion semen is now used more extensively by minimizing freeze thaw damage to spermatozoa, and indeed, more stallions might be used and pregnancy rates might be increased. Many steps constitute interactive participation in the success of the cryopreservation process, including semen collection, dilution, cooling, freezing, and thawing [12]. AbstractForty-eight ejaculates were obtained from four Arabian stallions to study the impact of three extenders (INRA Freeze, TRIS-egg yolk and E-Z Mixin) on the fertilizing capacity of cryopreserved stallions' semen. Ejaculates were cryopreserved in 0.5-ml plastic straws with a dilution rate of 1:1 and 1:2. Frozen straws were thawed at either 37°C for 30 sec or 70°C for 7sec and used for AI of eighty Arabian mares via different protocols. Results revealed that percentages of motility; live sperm; and abnormalities were significantly (P < 0.01) better in the E-Z Mixin at 5°C with dilution rates 1:1 and 1:2. Motility characteristics such as path velocity (VAP, μm/s), straightline velocity (VSL,μm/s), Point-to-Point Velocity (VCL, μm/s) and lateral head displacement (ALH, μm) were significantly (P < 0.01) the best by using E-Z Mixin at rates of dilution 1:1 and 1:2. Conception rate was significantly (...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding different concentrations of edible bird's nest (EBN) which is secreted by swiftlet birds (Aerodramus fuciphagus), into EquiPlus® and E-Z Mixin® extenders on the quality of chilled Arabian stallion semen at various storage times (0, 24 and 48 h). Ten ejaculates were collected from five stallions, and diluted using the two extenders containing 0% (control), 0.12%, 0.24% and 0.24% of EBN + seminal plasma (SP). All the diluted semen samples were then cooled and stored at 5 °C, and examined at 0, 24 and 48 h. Sperm kinetic parameters were assessed using computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and viability were assessed using Hoechst33342/PI stain. In both extenders, total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) were significantly higher at 0.12% and 0.24% compared to 0.24% + SP at 24 and 48 h. At 0.12%, E-Z mixin® treated semen had significantly higher TM and PM than EquiPlus ® at 24 and 48 h. At 0.12% and 0.24%, average path velocity (VAP), straight-line velocity (VSL) and curvilinear velocity (VCL) were significantly higher in E-Z mixin® treated semen compared to EquiPlus ® at 24 and 48 h. Comparisons between the two extender types at different concentrations of EBN showed no significant difference in lateral head amplitude (ALH), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), beat cross frequency (BCF) and viability, irrespective of the storage time. The percentage of viable was significantly higher in E-Z mixin® than EquiPlus® at 0 and 48 h in control and 0.12%. Supplementation of the E-Z mixin ® extender with 0.12% and 0.24% EBN concentrations in the absence of SP provided better CASA parameters such as TM, PM, VAP, VSL, and VCL at 24 and 48 h storage time. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that chilled semen from Arabian stallion that was extended using E-Z mixin® and supplemented with 0.12% and 0.24% EBN concentrations performed better and yielded superior results in sperm kinetic parameters and % viable compared to EquiPlus® at 24 and 48 h storage time.