EFFECT OF ADDING FERULA HERMONIS ROOTS AND SOME ANTIOXIDANTS TO TRIS EXTENDER ON POST-CRYOPRESERVED TOTAL NUMBER OF MOTILE SPERMS, NORMAL MORPHOLOGY SPERM AND HYPOOSMOTIC SPERMS OF HOLSTEIN BULLS DURING DIFFERENT COOLING AND CRYOPRESERVATION PERIODS

Abstract

This study was undertaken to explain the adding effect of alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis roots and some antioxidants to Tris extender on post-cryopreserved total number of motile sperms (TMS), normal morphology sperm (TNMS) and hypoosmotic sperms (THOS) of Holstein bulls for different preservation periods (cooling at 5°C, 2, 30 and 60 days post cryopreservation, PC). Eight Holstein bulls of 2.5-3 years of age were used in this study. Semen was collected via artificial vagina in one ejaculate per bull per week for the 7-week experimental period. Pooled semen was equally divided into eight treatments using Tris extender. The alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis roots (0.03 ml / 50 ml extender; T2), L-Carnitine (0.06g / 50 ml extender; T3), reduced glutathione (0.03 g / 50 ml extender; T4), vitamin C (0.2 g / 50 ml extender; T5), L-Carnitine; 0.06g / 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis roots; 0.03 ml / 50 ml extender (T6), reduced glutathione; 0.03 g / 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis roots; 0.03 ml / 50 ml extender (T7) and vitamin C; 0.2 g / 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis roots; 0.03 ml / 50 ml extender (T8) were added to Tris extender and comparisons in response were made with the control group (Tris extender, T1).The total phenolic compound of the extract was 124.38 ± 5.05 mg GAE / g extract and the extract with 0.01 and 0.03 % did not hemolyze the red blood cells and had not poisoning effect on blood cells. The T2 and T3 groups exhibited greater (P≤ 0.05) TMS as compared with the T1 group at cooling period. The T2 group was only superior (P≤ 0.05) at 30 and 60 days PC as compared with T1 group in similar character. On the other hand, T2 group had significantly (P≤ 0.05) greater TNMS in comparison with the other groups at cooling and 30 days PC periods. Lesser (P≤ 0.05) THOS was recorded in T2 group as compared with the others at all preservation periods. In conclusion, the adding of alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis roots (0.03 ml / 50 ml extender) and L-Carnitine (0.06g / 50 ml extender) to Tris extender had an obvious influence in increasing TMS and TNMS as well as decreasing THOS of Holstein bulls at different preservation periods as compared with the control (T1) group. This may contribute to a positive enhancement in conception and pregnancy rates of the inseminated cows, and consequently increase the owner's economic income.