Effect of addition of honey and skim milk and cooled cauda epididymal spermatozoa of Awassi ram

Abstract

The current study intends to assess the effectiveness of combining honey and skim milk in an extender on individual motility, livability, and abnormalities of cauda epididymal Awassi ram spermatozoa after diluting and cooling. Nine pairs of testicles Awassi rams were collected after the slaughter at the abattoir. Honey and skim milk combined were prepared. The cauda epididymal spermatozoa were divided into four equal parts and diluted in a Tris-based extender. (Control, basic diluents), HSM1 (basic diluents containing 0.5 ml honey and 9.5ml skim milk), HSM2 (basic diluents containing 1 ml honey and 9ml skim milk), HSM3 (basic diluents containing 1.5 ml honey and 8.5ml skim milk) and cooled 4ºC for evaluation of the percentages of sperm individual motility, live and abnormalities spermatozoa (including head, midpiece, and tail) at 0, 24, 48, and 72h. Results showed that individual motility spermatozoa preserved (P<0.05) in HSM1 and HSM2 groups at 24h and 48h. Livability spermatozoa were increased (P<0.05) in the HSM1 group at 48h and 72h. Groups HSM1, HSM2, and HSM3 decreased total abnormalities (P<0.05) at 48 h and 72h while decreasing tail abnormalities (P<0.05) at 24h and 48h than control. The HSM2 group was lower (P<0.05) in head abnormality of spermatozoa at 48 h, whereas the HSM1 group was at 72 h. In conclusion, the nourishing and protective effects of lower honey concentrations in extender favorably impact cauda epididymal spermatozoa of Awassi rams. Keywords: cauda epididymal spermatozoa, honey, skim milk, motility, livability, and abnormalities.